The monkey that would not kill

In Short

This book presents two episodic, adventurous chronicles centered on a resilient monkey. In the first part, a mischievous animal named Tricky survives repeated, comical "executions" at sea and on a remote island, eventually redeeming himself through an act of heroism. The second story follows a similar creature, renamed Gum, who becomes the loyal companion of a struggling gold miner in California. The book has endured as a charming example of Victorian-era juvenile fiction, characterized by its gentle humor, moral underpinnings, and a deep, empathetic affection for animal companions.

The Story

The narrative begins with a monkey of "peculiar disposition" named Tricky, whose arrival in a household sparks immediate chaos. After he repeatedly upsets the order of the home, the family decides to be rid of him. Efforts to give him away fail, as the entire village recognizes the troublesome animal. He is eventually sent to sea on the ship Vulcan. Onboard, Tricky becomes a source of endless, erratic entertainment for the crew. His presence is tolerated primarily because the ship’s captain and mate hope he will cause trouble for the other, rather than themselves.

Tricky’s life reaches a crisis when he is formally "hanged" by the crew for killing the ship’s cat. He survives, only to be tossed into the Atlantic by a boatswain. He climbs back aboard, soaking the crew, and the captain—moved by the display of survival—vows that no one shall attempt to kill the monkey again. Eventually, the Vulcan arrives at a remote Scottish island, where the captain exiles Tricky. The island is home to a shepherd and his family, who are terrified by the "monster." The shepherd makes several desperate, slapstick attempts to kill the monkey—using a gun, a pump-handle as a gallows, and finally a stone to drown him—but every effort fails through a combination of bad luck and the monkey’s agility.

The turning point occurs when the shepherd’s cottage catches fire at night. Tricky, having recently escaped his latest "execution," jumps onto the roof and into the house. His presence and subsequent commotion awaken the sleeping family, who barely escape the inferno. The shepherd’s enmity is replaced by gratitude, and they later establish a lighthouse together, with Tricky living out his days as a protected member of the household.

The second half of the book introduces a new monkey, likely the same one, who is discovered by a gold miner named Donald in San Francisco. Donald names him "Gum" because the creature sticks to him like glue. They travel together to the Rocky Mountains to mine for gold. Donald’s wife is initially suspicious, but the monkey soon earns his place in the family. After Donald discovers a significant gold nugget, two local thieves break into his cabin. During the robbery, Gum intervenes, tearing off a mask and snatching the nugget, though he is badly injured in the process and loses his tail. The thieves carry him away, but he eventually manages to escape and return home. He collapses at Donald's door, but in a final act of devotion, he is found holding the stolen nugget in his mouth. In the years that follow, Donald becomes a wealthy man, and Gum lives as the honored, golden-collared "founder of his fortunes."

How It Unfolds

The arrival of chaos Tricky arrives at a household and immediately wreaks havoc, leading to failed attempts to banish or "wander" him in the woods. His sheer refusal to be excluded forces the family to send him away on a merchant ship.

The ship of fools On the Vulcan, the monkey manages to survive a judicial hanging and a dunking in the Atlantic Ocean. He becomes a mascot of sorts, held in a strange, uneasy respect by the captain and crew.

The island ordeal Exiled to a lonely island, Tricky encounters a superstitious shepherd who attempts to kill him through a series of increasingly absurd, failed executions. The monkey’s resilience is matched only by the shepherd’s growing, comical frustration.

The rescue and redemption The shepherd’s house catches fire, and Tricky’s unintended intervention saves the family from certain death. This event transforms their relationship, leading to a permanent, peaceful coexistence in a lighthouse.

A new beginning In California, the monkey—now called Gum—finds a new home with a miner. He proves his worth by retrieving a stolen fortune from thieves, cementing his place in the miner’s family forever.

The People

Tricky (later Gum) is the driving force of the narrative, a creature defined by his survival instinct and his inability to be permanently suppressed. He is not a malicious character, but his instinctual behavior acts as a catalyst that exposes the vanity and superstition of the humans around him.

The Captain of the Vulcan is a blunt, fair-minded man whose vow to protect the monkey provides a moral anchor for the first story. His decision to spare Tricky represents a shift from indifference to mercy. The Shepherd, conversely, begins as a man paralyzed by fear and superstition. Through his failed attempts to destroy the "monster," he learns that his efforts are futile, ultimately finding redemption by accepting the monkey as a guardian.

Donald, the gold miner, is a man of integrity. Unlike the thieves who seek to exploit him, he treats Gum with genuine affection, recognizing the monkey's role in his own success. He changes from a struggling worker to a wealthy man, yet he remains grounded, keeping his monkey not as a tool, but as a cherished companion.

In Its Own Voice

Tricky’s introduction to the household is marked by immediate, unstoppable disruption:

There was no peace in the home after Tricky came. He ate everything, upset everything, broke everything, stole everything, did everything that the average monkey ought not to do.

The captain’s resolve to protect the monkey after he survives the sea is firm:

Now the Captain was a blunt, good-natured man, and he avowed that neither man nor monkey who had ever been hanged on board his ship should ever be put to death again.

The shepherd’s confusion regarding the monkey’s nature is absolute:

I have tried the first; I'll prove the next. So, as he was too superstitious to try to shoot it again, he went out to hang the monkey.

What It's Really About

The book explores the resilience of life and the way our perceptions of "monsters" are often just reflections of our own fear. The central argument is that kindness and tolerance are more effective than brute force. By presenting a creature that cannot be conquered by violence, the author invites the reader to stop fighting the unpredictable elements of the world and instead learn to live alongside them. There is a strong undercurrent of loyalty; the monkey’s survival is not just a physical feat but a moral one, as he ultimately rewards the humans who stop trying to kill him with his service and protection.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy classic, gentle tales about animals with outsized personalities will find much to love here. The book captures a bygone era of storytelling, one that is earnest, slightly dramatic, and deeply invested in the bond between human and beast. The humor is slapstick and lighthearted, reminiscent of early comic illustrations.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the period-typical, casual attitudes toward violence; the shepherd’s repeated attempts to kill the monkey are portrayed with a dark, farcical tone that might feel jarring today. Additionally, the writing is rooted in late-19th-century sensibilities, which includes some of the period's inherent biases regarding "run-away slaves" and "gold-mining criminals," which appear in the text as matter-of-fact background elements. If you can move past those dated conventions, the story of the monkey that simply refuses to stop being alive is remarkably endearing. It is a quick, spirited read that lingers on the idea that even the most troublesome guest—or creature—might eventually become the most valuable member of the family. The charm of the book lies in its warmth; it is a story that feels like a quiet, flickering hearth in the middle of a very long, cold night.