" Umboo had often, in the jungle, seen the
monkeys do this.
"But you are not a monkey," said his mother. "Can you reach up with
your trunk and pull down the nuts?"
Umboo tried, but his trunk was not long enough.
"I guess the only way to get the nuts is to break down the tree; but
how can I do that?" he asked.
"Your head is the strongest part of you," said Mrs. Stumptail. "See if
you can knock the tree over."
"Bang!" went Umboo's head against the tree. The tree shook and
shivered, and a few nuts were knocked down, but not enough.
"Well," said the elephant boy, as he banged the tree again, "I don't
mind doing this for fun, as it doesn't hurt, but the tree doesn't seem
to be coming down very fast. And I can't get the nuts until it does.
What shall I do, mother?"
"Just think a little harder," said Mrs. Stumptail. "I want you to grow
up to be a smart elephant boy, and to do that you must think for
yourself. I shall not always be with you. Try and think now how to get
the tree down."
"I know!" cried Umboo. "I can pull it over with my trunk!"
He wrapped his long trunk around the tree and began to pull.
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