The soldiers couldn't see them, their heads being above the trees;
they could not even raise their arms or draw their sharp swords, so
closely were they held by the leafy branches. So the monkeys, finding
the giants helpless, began climbing up their bodies, and presently all
the band were perched on the shoulders of the giants and peering into
their faces.
"I'm Ebu, your father," cried one soldier to a monkey who had
perched upon his left ear, "but some cruel person has enchanted me."
"I'm your Uncle Peeker," said another soldier to another monkey.
So, very soon all the monkeys knew the truth and were sorry for
their friends and relations and angry at the person--whoever it
was--who had transformed them. There was a great chattering among the
tree-tops, and the noise attracted other monkeys, so that the clearing
and all the trees around were full of them.
Rango the Gray Ape, who was the Chief of all the monkey tribes of
the forest, heard the uproar and came to see what was wrong with his
people. And Rango, being wiser and more experienced, at once knew
that the strange magician who looked like a mixed-up beast was
responsible for the transformations.
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