Part 8 (2/2)

”Oho,” said the Wolf, ”a Lion. Who tackles the strong will not live long. If I eat King Lion's meat, King Lion will make a meal of my cubs.”

Away went the Wolf, trappity trap, trappity trap.

A little while more, and swish, swish, swish, the Lion himself came stalking slowly along, whisking away the flies with his tail. When he saw the Goat sitting beside his den, says he--

”Friend Goat, what want you here? Are you anxious to make a meal for me?”

”O King Lion,” said the Goat, bowing before him very humbly, ”here I have been sitting these two hours, and wolves and jackals came to eat me; but the sight of your footprints was safety for me: I told them I was yours, and they took to their heels for fear. Now eat me if you will; for yours I am.”

Then the Lion said, ”O Goat, if you have called yourself mine, never will I devour you. I will see to it that you are well treated.”

Then the Lion went out and found an Elephant, who greeted him with the greatest respect. ”Elephant,” said the Lion, ”I want you to do something for me.”

”Speak on,” said the Elephant, ”do it I will.”

The Lion said, ”There is a poor lame Goat has thrown himself on my mercy, and I have thought of a plan by which he can be fed. If you will suffer him to mount on your back, then while you go grazing about, he can browse upon the young shoots of the trees as you pa.s.s under.”

”That is a good idea,” said the Elephant, ”and I'll do it for you willingly, and indeed anything else in my power.”

If the Lion was pleased at the kindness of the Elephant, more pleased was the lame Goat; and a happy life was his from that day. Never again was he beaten by a cruel goatherd: but he fed on the fat of the land, and lived to a green old age; and I hope we may be half as happy as he was.

The Cat and the Sparrows

THERE was once a pair of Sparrows that lived in a tree. They used to hop about all over the place, picking up seeds or anything they could find to eat. One day, when they came back with their pickings, the c.o.c.k had found some rice, and the Hen a few lentils. They put it all in an earthen pot, and then proceeded to cook their dinner. Then they divided the mess into two equal parts.

The c.o.c.k was rather greedy, so he would not wait while his wife put out the fire and got ready to join in the meal. No! he gobbled up his share at once, before she could begin.

When at last the poor Hen came up, her greedy mate would not let her rest even then. ”Go and get me a drink of water,” said he quite rudely.

She was a very kind wife, so without taking any notice of his rudeness, off she went for the water.

While she was gone the c.o.c.k-sparrow's eyes fell on his wife's share of the dinner. ”Ah,” thought he, ”how I should like another bit! Well, why shouldn't I have it? A man does all the work, and women don't want much to eat at any time.” So without any more ado, he just set to, and gobbled up his wife's share.

Back came the Hen-sparrow with a drink of water for her husband. When he had drunk it up (and I am afraid he forgot to say thank you), she turned round to look for her dinner. Lo and behold! there was none. What could have become of it? As she was wondering, she happened to look at her husband; he looked so guilty that there could be no manner of doubt where her dinner was.

”You greedy bird,” said she, ”why have you eaten my dinner?”

”I haven't touched your dinner,” said the c.o.c.k angrily.

”I'm sure you have,” said she, ”or you would not look so guilty. Why, you are actually blus.h.i.+ng.” And so indeed he was; the tip of his beak was quite red.

However, he still denied it, and grew angrier and angrier, as people do when they know they are in the wrong. They had a terrible quarrel. At last the Hen-sparrow said, ”Well, I know a way to find out whether you are telling lies or not. You come along with me.” And she made him go with her to the well.

Across the top of the well she stretched a piece of string, and she sat on the middle of the string, and began to chirp, ”If I am telling lies, I pray I may fall in.” But though she sat there a long time, chirping away, she did not fall in.

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