Dog, who had watched his chance, now cried out in an affected voice, “Hi, hi—wake up! Leopard has killed the goat. There he is. Ah, ah! Kill him, kill him!”
Alarmed at the noise made, and hearing a rustle in the grass near him, Leopard was obliged to abandon his prize, and to save his own life, dropped the goat and fled.
Dog, chuckling loudly at the success of his ruse, picked the dead goat up, and trotted home to the den with it.
“Oh, see, Leopard!” cried he, as he reached the entrance, “what a fat goat I’ve got at my village. Is it not a heavy one? But where is yours? Did you not succeed after all?”
“Oh! I was alarmed by the owners in the village, who pursued me and yelled out, ‘Kill him, kill him!’ and there was something rustling in the grass close by, and I thought that I was done for; but I dropped the goat and ran away. I dare say they have found the animal by this, and have eaten our meat. Never mind, though, better luck next time. I saw a fine fat white goat in the pen, which I am sure to catch to-morrow night.”
“Well, I am very sorry, but cheer your heart. You shall have an equal share with me of this. Let us bestir ourselves to cook it.”
They gathered sticks and made a fire, and began to roast it. When it was nearly ready Dog went outside, and took a stick and beat the ground, and whined out:
“Oh! please, I did not do it. It was Leopard that killed the goat. Oh! don’t kill me. It was Leopard who stole it.”
Leopard, hearing these cries and the blows of the stick, thought to himself: “Ah! the men have followed us to our den, and are killing Dog; then they will come and kill me if I do not run.” He therefore ran out and escaped.