“Won’t you let me go?” asked the horse.
“No,” said Two-Legs. “But I’ll do better for you. You shall now drink from the spring and then you shall have the juiciest grass to eat that you ever tasted. After that, you shall lie down and reflect that you are now in my service and that you can spend the remainder of your days free of all cares, without the very least anxiety, if only you will be faithful and willing and do the little bit of work that I shall require of you.”
He fed the horse and fastened him to the door of the tent. The cow stood tethered close by.
“Shall we see if we can get loose?” whispered the horse, when night came and Two-Legs was asleep.
“No,” said the cow, shaking her head. “I sha’n’t run away again. I accept my lot. It was a terrible sight to see him on your back. He is the master of us all. No one can resist him.”
But the sparrow flew round the forest on her swift wings.
“Two-Legs has caught the horse.... He rides on his back.... He has fastened him to his tent.... The horse has become Two-Legs’ servant.”
“Have you heard the latest?” the lioness asked her husband. “Do you mean to let him ride on your back too, when he goes hunting?”
The lion gave a threatening roar:
“He had better just try!” he said.