SCENE III—_Under the Sea

_Monkey._ Why do they keep me here? No one to talk to, no one to play with, no trees to climb. Only one friend, the jellyfish with his hard shell. I’d like him better if he hadn’t one. It makes me think of that bad turtle that brought me down here on his hard back. Here comes the old jellyfish now.

_Jellyfish._ Hello, Monkey, you look sad.

_Monkey._ So would you if you wanted trees instead of seaweed, and land instead of water, and warm sunshine, and other little monkeys to play with.

_Jellyfish._ Poor Monkey! I am sorry for you. But of course you must stay here until they come to get you.

_Monkey._ Until who comes to get me?

_Jellyfish._ The fish, of course. Don’t you know?

_Monkey._ Indeed, I don’t, Jellyfish. What do you mean?

_Jellyfish._ They want your heart for the queen. In a few days they’ll come and kill you and give her your heart to eat.

_Monkey._ Oh, dear me! Give my heart to the queen to eat? Why, Jellyfish, do you know what you are talking about? What wrong have I done that I should be killed?

_Jellyfish._ Oh, you’ve done no wrong. But our dear queen is very ill, and your heart is the only thing that will cure her. We cannot get your heart unless we kill you; so try and be brave about it.

[_Jellyfish swims off._]

_Monkey._ [_To himself._] I shall not give my heart to the queen. I must get away from here somehow. But how? I do not know the way. Only the turtle could take me back, and he won’t. What can I do? Here comes the turtle now.

_Turtle._ You look sad, Monkey. What is the matter?

_Monkey._ Dear me, Turtle, I was just thinking of something I have left at home that I need very much.

_Turtle._ Indeed! What is it, dear Monkey?

_Monkey._ It’s my heart, Turtle. Just before I left home I hung it out on a bush to dry. If the rain comes, it will be spoiled.

_Turtle._ What is this you tell me?

_Monkey._ It’s about my heart. Some one must carry me back to the land so that I can get it.

_Turtle._ Well, well, is there no other way? Then I must take you back to get your heart. That is the best plan, and we must start at once. Come. [_They go out together._]