“Now, at this precise moment the monkey called Vargu did a far more daring thing than he had done when he first spoke to Soft Foot. He made a great swing from the branch where he sat and landed plump under his visitor’s nose! With a start of surprise, the leopard crouched back and for a moment he made as if he were going to leap off through the grass. Had he done so, I’m sure I don’t know what might have come of this tale. Indeed, I’m afraid there might have been none to tell. For who knows but what, failing at this very time, Vargu might never have accomplished his plan. But, without so much as moving one inch from the point he had reached on the ground when he swung, he calmly sat down and at once began to count on his toes. “‘One, two, three, four, five, six, seven’ (long breath) ‘eight, nine, ten—Dear me! I wonder if I’m going to have enough,’ exclaimed he to himself, just as if there wasn’t another animal for miles and miles around. Then he picked up his left foot and began to use its toes for counters all over again. “By this time Soft Foot had quite swallowed his snarl and, if he had been a house-cat instead of a leopard, there is no telling what might have happened to him. For he was simply overcome with curiosity. “‘Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen,’ continued Vargu. “‘For goodness’ sake, fourteen what!’ broke in Soft Foot. “‘Why,’ answered Vargu, looking up, ‘stories, of course. Fifteen, sixteen—’ “‘Do you mean to say you known that many stories?’ demanded the leopard, again interrupting. “‘Of course I do,’ replied the other, ‘but, since leopards can’t talk to monkeys, you wouldn’t be interested. Nineteen, twenty—’ “‘But I am interested,’ protested Soft Foot. “‘Of course you are,’ said Vargu as he dropped his foot and ceased counting, ‘and I know that you know a whole lot of tales in which I would be interested. More than that, we both know that all the different kinds of animals know stories that they might tell one another, if they only would; and be a lot happier and a lot more sociable as a result. So, why in the world don’t we all get acquainted and be friends?’ “‘We just can’t,’ answered Soft Foot. ‘It isn’t done.’ “‘But we two are doing it, aren’t we?’ “‘Y—es,’ admitted the other slowly. “‘Well,’ argued Vargu, ‘what we two can do all the animals can do, if they only will. And I have a plan that I am sure will succeed. What do you say—will you help me?’ “The leopard sat thinking for fully a minute. Then he walked up and down several times beneath the tree. “‘Aw, come on,’ coaxed Vargu. “‘There’s my paw on it, monkey,’ the other said finally. ‘My name’s Soft Foot.’ “‘Mine’s Vargu,’ the monkey answered gleefully, ‘V-a-r-g-u with the u silent, please. And now suppose we climb into the tree so we can talk undisturbed.’” CHAPTER IX IN WHICH THE PRETTY LADY CONCLUDES HER STORY