Presently they met a big Lion and when he saw them all running in a wild panic, he roared in a loud voice three times, “Grr-rr! Grr-rr! Grr-rr! Stop at once, I command you, and tell me the meaning of this!”
Now this big Lion was the Rajah Lion and he ruled over all the animals in the jungle, so that, when he ordered them to stop, they all stopped at once, and stood still, quivering with fright.
“What is this that you are crying out, and why were you all running in such a panic?” roared the Lion.
“Oh, great and mighty Rajah,” they answered, “the earth is falling in and we are running away to save our lives!”
“But if the earth is falling in, how then can you run from it?” asked the Rajah Lion. “I see no signs to show that the earth is falling in. How do you know this, Brother Elephant?”
“Why, I did not know it myself, but Brother Camel told me,” answered the Elephant.
“Brother Camel, how did you hear that the earth was falling in?” asked the Lion.
“Why, I did not hear it myself, but Brother Fox told me,” answered the Camel.
“How do you know this, Brother Fox?” asked the Lion.
“Why, I did not hear it myself, but the Deer told me,” answered the Fox.