The Magic of Oz

CHAPTER 8. The Li-Mon-Eags

Make Trouble

There had been trouble in the Forest of Gugu that morning. Chipo the

Wild Boar had bitten the tail off Arx the Giraffe while the latter had his

head among the leaves of a tree, eating his breakfast. Arx kicked with his

heels and struck Tirrip, the great Kangaroo, who had a new baby in her

pouch. Tirrip knew it was the Wild Boar's fault, so she knocked him over

with one powerful blow and then ran away to escape Chipo's sharp tusks.

In the chase that followed a giant porcupine stuck fifty sharp quills into

the Boar and a chimpanzee in a tree threw a cocoanut at the porcupine that

jammed its head into its body.

All this was against the Laws of the Forest, and when the excitement

was over, Gugu the Leopard King called his royal Counselors together to

decide how best to punish the offenders.

The four lords of the forest were holding solemn council in a small

clearing when they saw two strange beasts approaching them--beasts the

like of which they had never seen before.

Not one of the four, however, relaxed his dignity or showed by a

movement that he was startled. The great Leopard crouched at full length

upon a fallen tree-trunk. Bru the Bear sat on his haunches before the King;

Rango the Gray Ape stood with his muscular arms folded, and Loo the

Unicorn reclined, much as a horse does, between his fellow-councillors.

With one consent they remained silent, eyeing with steadfast looks the

intruders, who were making their way into their forest domain.

Well met, Brothers!" said one of the strange beasts, coming to a halt

beside the group, while his comrade with hesitation lagged behind.

We are not brothers," returned the Gray Ape, sternly. "Who are you,

and how came you in the forest of Gugu?"

We are two Li-Mon-Eags," said Ruggedo, inventing the name. "Our

home is in Sky Island, and we have come to earth to warn the forest beasts