“Friends!” snarled Spot. “I may think of that after I’ve clawed off some of your hide!”
“Me too!” echoed Ocelot. “And I’d like to begin with your eyes.”
“And I’ll lap up his warm blood when you’ve killed him,” growled Timber the Wolf from his cage.
Buster, instead of being offended at these threats, sat back on his haunches and laughed. Then noticing the Old Lion watching them, his eyes blinking sleepily, he turned to him.
“What would you like to do to me, Old Lion?” he asked.
“Nothing, Buster, except to give you some good advice,” was the reply.
“That’s a friendly offer. I’ll listen to it.”
The Old Lion winked and blinked, stretched himself with a yawn, and then sat up looking for all the world like the noble king of the beasts.
“When your enemies threaten you, Buster,” he said slowly, “it is wise to listen to them so you may be prepared. Don’t let the pride of strength deceive you. The mouse gnawed through the net that the lion couldn’t break, and Cobra the Reptile put a whole jungle of animals to flight. That is all, Buster.”
“Thank you, Old Lion,” replied Buster. “I’ll remember what you said.”