The lion said nothing, but lay staring before him with his yellow eyes.
2
But, a little before daybreak, he stole up to Two-Legs’ cave, hid in the bushes and waited patiently until the stone was rolled away. This happened immediately after sunrise. The lion made ready to leap. He saw blood before his eyes and sprang, almost without thinking, upon the first form that appeared, struck it down with his powerful claws and carried it back with a bound into the bushes.
A terrible scream brought Two-Legs to the entrance of the cave. He stood holding a spear in either hand. The lion saw that he had not killed his enemy, but only one of his children. He let go the corpse and prepared to make a fresh spring. Two-Legs now saw him among the leaves. He flung one spear and missed him. Then he threw the other, but the lion was gone, with great bounds.
With tears and lamentations, Two-Legs and his wife bore the dead child into the cave. The lion, hurried by fear, fled through the forest. Wherever he came, the terrified animals fell aside.
“The lion is flying from Two-Legs,” announced the sparrow.
And the rumour spread through the whole forest and grew.
“Two-Legs has wounded the lion with his spear,” screamed the crow.
“Two-Legs has killed the lion and is hunting the lioness,” squeaked the mouse.
And the lion fled on.