' The tiger replied, 'If, indeed,
the mouse hath said so, my sense is now awakened. I shall, from this day,
slay with the might of my own arms, creatures ranging the forest and then
feast on their flesh.' Having said this, the tiger went away.
"And after the tiger had left the spot, the mouse came. And seeing the
mouse come, the jackal addressed him and said, 'Blest be thou, O mouse,
but listen to what the mongoose hath said. He hath even said, The carcass
of this deer is poison (the tiger having touched it with his claws). I
will not eat of it. On the other hand, if thou, O jackal, permittest it, I
will even slay the mouse and feast on him.' Hearing this the mouse became
alarmed and quickly entered his hole. And after the mouse had gone, the
wolf, O king, came there having performed his ablutions. And seeing the
wolf come, the jackal said unto him, 'The king of the beasts hath been
angry with thee. Evil is certain to overtake thee. He is expected here
with his wife. Do as thou pleasest.' Thus was the wolf also, fond of
animal flesh, got rid of by the jackal. And the wolf fled, contracting his
body into the smallest dimensions. It was then that the mongoose came. And,
O king, the jackal, seeing him come, said, 'By the might of my arm have I
defeated the others who have already fled. Fight with me first and then
eat of this flesh as you please.' The mongoose replied, 'When, indeed, the
tiger, the wolf, and the intelligent mouse have all been defeated by thee,
heroes as they are, thou seemest to be a greater hero still.
Pages:
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581