17-THE STRANGERS ARE RIGHT!

THE STRANGERS ARE RIGHT! The next morning, I talked to Strongfur. "We know about the evil rodents who are destroying your forest," I said. "We want to help. We must stop them before it's too late." Strongfur shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid no one can help," he said with a sigh. "They have threatened to BURN down our homes. Suddenly, Monkeyfur jumped to her paws. "The strangers are right!" she cried. "We must return to the HOUSE OF THE HOWLING SPIRITS, where the tombs of our ancestors are buried!" "Howling Spirits?" muttered Thea.

"Tombs?" added Benjamin. "Okay, spill the beans," said Trap. Slowly, Strongfur let us in on their secret. It seems they were the last descendants of the Incas. For years, they had been living deep in the forest next to the House of the Howling Spirits. It was the same as the place we called the TEMPLE OF THE RUBY OF FIRE. Then the EVIL RODENTS had come and began chopping down trees. Strongfur and the rest of the villagers were driven away. I watched Monkeyfur listening to her father. She looked angry. "Father, please let me go with the strangers," she pleaded. "Together we will stop the evil ones. We should not have to live in fear." After a few minutes, Strongfur nodded. He hugged his daughter. "You may go," he agreed. "But remember, you must be sly like a monkey.