The Monkey and the Magic Fiddle

Hunger and want forced Monkey one day to forsake his homeland and seek work elsewhere among strangers. Bulbs, earth beans, scorpions, insects, and all such sustenance were completely exhausted in his own territory. Fortunately, he found shelter with his great uncle, Orang Outang, who lived in a distant part of the vast African wilderness.

After Monkey had worked diligently for many seasons, he grew homesick and wished to return to his native lands. As payment for his faithful service, his great uncle presented him with two magical gifts: a fiddle and a bow with arrows. "With this bow and these arrows," the old Orang Outang explained, "you can strike down anything you desire. And with this fiddle, you can compel any creature to dance to your rhythm."

The first creature Monkey encountered upon his return was Brer Wolf, an old acquaintance who shared all the local news. Wolf complained bitterly that he had been stalking a deer since early morning, but all his efforts had been in vain.

Monkey proudly displayed his magical bow and assured Wolf that if he could spot the deer, he would bring it down with a single shot. When Wolf pointed out the grazing animal, Monkey took careful aim, and down fell the deer with perfect precision.

They shared a hearty meal together, but instead of showing gratitude, jealousy consumed Wolf's heart. He demanded the magical bow and arrows for himself. When Monkey refused to surrender his precious gifts, Wolf began threatening him with his superior strength and size.

Just then, clever Jackal happened to pass by. Wolf immediately accused Monkey of theft, claiming the magical weapons belonged to him. After listening to both sides of the dispute, Jackal declared himself unqualified to settle such a serious matter alone. He proposed they bring the case before the great court of Lion, Tiger, and the other ruling animals of the land.

"In the meantime," Jackal announced with false authority, "I shall take possession of these disputed items to keep them safe." But the cunning Jackal immediately began using the magical bow to hunt every creature he could find, creating a long period of slaughter and feast before Monkey and Wolf finally agreed to proceed to the animal court.

When the trial commenced, Monkey's evidence seemed weak, and worse still, Jackal testified against him. The sly Jackal believed that by helping Wolf win the case, he could more easily steal the bow and arrows for himself afterward.

The court's verdict fell harshly against Monkey. Theft was considered among the gravest of crimes in the animal kingdom, and the sentence was death by hanging.

However, Monkey still carried his fiddle at his side, and as a final mercy, the court granted him permission to play one last tune before his execution.

Monkey was a master musician, and combined with the supernatural power of his enchanted fiddle, his music held irresistible magic. The moment he struck the first note of the lively tune called "Cockcrow," the entire court began to show unusual and spontaneous energy. Before he reached the first waltzing turn of the melody, every animal in the court was dancing like creatures caught in a whirlwind.

Over and over, faster and faster, the tune of "Cockcrow" rang out from the charmed fiddle. Some of the dancers, completely exhausted, collapsed to the ground yet still kept their feet moving to the irresistible rhythm. But Monkey, lost in his musical mastery, heard and saw nothing of the chaos around him. With his head lovingly pressed against his instrument and his eyes half-closed in concentration, he played on, keeping perfect time with his foot.

Wolf was the first to cry out in breathless, pleading tones, "Please stop, Cousin Monkey! For the love of all that's sacred, please stop this music!"

But Monkey seemed not to hear him. Over and over sounded the relentless waltz of "Cockcrow."

After what felt like hours, even the mighty Lion showed signs of exhaustion. Having spun around the court once more with his young lioness wife, he growled desperately as he passed the musician, "My entire kingdom is yours, clever ape, if you will only cease this playing!"

"I do not want your kingdom," Monkey replied calmly, never missing a note, "but withdraw the sentence against me and return my bow and arrows. And you, Wolf, must acknowledge before all assembled that you attempted to steal them from me."

"I acknowledge it! I acknowledge everything!" cried Wolf frantically, while Lion roared at that very instant that he withdrew the death sentence completely.

Monkey graciously gave them just a few more energetic turns of "Cockcrow" to ensure his message was clear, then gathered up his bow and arrows and nimbly climbed high into the nearest camel thorn tree.

The court and all the other animals were so terrified that he might begin playing again that they hastily scattered and fled to distant parts of the world, leaving Monkey victorious and free.

From that day forward, whenever animals heard the distant sound of fiddle music carried on the wind, they would remember the power of Monkey's magic and think twice before attempting to cheat an honest traveler.