Standing on
the edge of this clearing and looking across it, they saw the trees on
the farther side full of monkeys, who were chattering together at a
great rate of the sights they had witnessed at the meeting.
The old Nome whispered to Kiki not to enter the clearing or allow
the monkeys to see them.
"Why not?" asked the boy, drawing back.
"Because those monkeys are to be our army--the army which will
conquer Oz," said the Nome. "Sit down here with me, Kiki, and keep
quiet, and I will explain to you my plan."
Now, neither Kiki Aru nor Ruggedo had noticed that a sly Fox had
followed them all the way from the tree where the Goose had been
transformed to the Li-Mon-Eag. Indeed, this Fox, who was none other
than the Wizard of Oz, had witnessed the transformation of the Goose
and now decided he would keep watch on the conspirators and see what
they would do next.
A Fox can move through a forest very softly, without making any
noise, and so the Wizard's enemies did not suspect his presence. But
when they sat down by the edge of the clearing, to talk, with their
backs toward him, the Wizard did not know whether to risk being seen,
by creeping closer to hear what they said, or whether it would be
better for him to hide himself until they moved on again.
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