—­ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

THE MONKEY’S FIDDLE

I

Once upon a time there was a great famine in the land, and Monkey could find no food.  There were no bulbs, no beans, no insects, nor anything else to eat.

At last Monkey said to himself, “Why should I perish here with hunger?  My uncle Orang-outang has enough and to spare; I shall go to him, and he will give me food and shelter.”

So he set out and soon came to the place where Orang-outang lived.  For a long time Monkey was happy in his new home, but by and by he heard that there was no longer a famine in his own land.  Then he decided to go back.

Before he started, Orang-outang made him a present of a fiddle and of a bow and arrow,

“With this bow and arrow you can kill any animal,” he said.  “With this fiddle you can make anything dance until you bid it stop.”

Thanking his uncle for the presents, Monkey set out on his homeward journey.  On the way he met Brother Wolf.

“What news, Brother Wolf?” asked Monkey.

When Wolf had told him the news, Monkey asked, “What have you been doing to-day?”

“Oh,” said Wolf, “I have been following a deer all the morning, but I have been unable to get near enough to kill him.  Now I am faint with hunger.”

“I can help you,” said Monkey.  “I have a magic bow and arrow.  Show me the deer, and I will bring him down.”

When Wolf showed him the deer, Monkey fitted an arrow to the bow and took aim.  Hardly had the arrow left the bow when the deer fell dead.

Monkey and Wolf sat down and had a good feast.  As Wolf ate, he thought of the magic bow and arrow, and he planned to get them away from Monkey.

“First I will ask for them,” he said to himself.  “If Monkey will not give them to me, I will use force.”

[Illustration:  Wolf demands the bow and arrow]

When Wolf had finished eating, he said to Monkey, “Please give me the bow and arrow.”

“I will not,” said Monkey.  “They were a present from my dear uncle; why should I give them to you?”

“Very well,” said Wolf.  “I am stronger than you, and I will take them by force.”

II

Wolf was just about to snatch the bow and arrow from Monkey when Jackal came along.  Then Wolf thought of a new plan.

He called out to Jackal, “Help! help!  Monkey has stolen my magic bow and arrow.”

Jackal came running to them.  Wolf told his side of the story, and Monkey told his.

“I cannot believe either of you,” said Jackal.  “Let us lay the question before the court.  There Lion, Tiger, and the other animals will hear you both; perhaps they will be able to decide to whom the magic bow and arrow belong.  But to keep you two from quarreling, I had better take care of the bow and arrow.”