“You’re looking for a blistered animal?” asked the Lion as he approached the men.
The three exchanged devilish glances with each other, and then nodded to the Lion. “He went this way...” said the Lion, and he led them off in the wrong direction. The men, meanwhile, lagged behind and whispered amongst themselves. They were planning to ambush the Lion again. But the Lion had learned his lesson. He led them to the top of a big hill and pretended to look out over the expanse. The men, believing the Lion to be distracted, took up their sticks and, after counting silently to three, rushed at the Lion. But the beast was ready for them and after nimbly jumping out of the way, roared loudly and ate up all three men in one bite. When he returned from the hill, however, the Monkey was gone. The Lion tried to find him—he wanted to make up for what he had done—but the Monkey avoided him like the plague, and the two never walked together again. |