Atondido Stories
"Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!" cried the jackal,
wringing its paws. "Let me see! how did it all begin? You were in
the cage, and the tiger came walking by—"
"Pooh!" interrupted the tiger, "what a fool you are! I was in
the cage."
"Of course!" cried the jackal, pretending to tremble with
fright; "yes! I was in the cage—no I wasn't—dear! dear! where
are my wits? Let me see—the tiger was in the Brahman, and the
cage came walking by—no, that's not it, either! Well, don't mind
me, but begin your dinner, for I shall never understand!"
"Yes, you shall!" returned the tiger, in a rage at the jackal's
stupidity; "I'll m ak e you understand! Look here—I am the
tiger—"
"Yes, my lord!"
"And that is the Brahman—"
"Yes, my lord!"
"And that is the cage—"
"Yes, my lord!"
"And I was in the cage—do you understand?"
"Yes—no—Please, my lord—"
"Well?" cried the tiger impatiently.
"Please, my lord!—how did you get in?"
"How!—why in the usual way, of course!"
"Oh, dear me!—my head is beginning to whirl again! Please
don't be angry, my lord, but what is the usual way?"
At this the tiger lost patience, and, jumping into the cage, cried,
"This way! Now do you understand how it was?"
"Perfectly!" grinned the jackal, as he dexterously shut the
door, "and if you will permit me to say so, I think matters will re-
main as they were!"
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