XII

HOW THE MONKEY SAVED HIS TROOP


A mango-tree grew on the bank of a great river. The fruit fell from
some of the branches of this tree into the river, and from other
branches it fell on the ground.

Every night a troop of Monkeys gathered the fruit that lay on the
ground and climbed up into the tree to get the mangoes, which were
like large, juicy peaches.

One day the king of the country stood on the bank of this same river,
but many miles below where the mango-tree grew. The king was watching
the fishermen with their nets.

As they drew in their nets, the fishermen found not only fishes but a
strange fruit. They went to the king with the strange fruit. "What is
this?" asked the king. "We do not know, O King," they said.

"Call the foresters," said the king, "They will know what it is."

So they called the foresters and they said that it was a mango.

"Is it good to eat?" asked the king.