He had been fast asleep after the hearty meal which he had enjoyed; and he was furious at being roused. His hair hung about his face in disorder and his eyes were bloodshot and his mouth covered with foam:
“Who dares disturb my sleep?” he shouted.
“I do: the lion.”
“The lion, the king of beasts,” they all cried, respectfully, with one voice.
“I am king in my own house,” said Two-Legs. “Be off, I want to sleep.”
“He is defying the lion.... He is mad.... I won’t give a penny for his life!” cried the animals.
But Two-Legs took the thigh-bone of the sheep, aimed it and flung it with all his might at the lion. It hit the king of beasts in the middle of the forehead. He uttered a frightful roar. All the animals rushed terrified across the meadow. The lion ran in their midst, roaring constantly, till it echoed all over the forest.
But Two-Legs lay down quietly to sleep and slept until broad daylight.
When he awoke and had climbed down the tree, the dog lay gnawing the bone which Two-Legs had flung at the lion. He wagged his tail; Two-Legs patted him and gave him another bone:
“Will you be my servant and my friend?” asked Two-Legs.