“Oh! thank you, friend,” said the Leopard, “I will astonish the natives of my town.”
Away he went to his town, and told all his wives that he had been taught some wonderful magic by his friend the Fowl.
“What is it?” they asked.
“Well, my head is cut off,” said the Leopard, “and then you take it to the farm to comb and clean, and then you bring it back.”
“All right,” they cried in chorus.
The Leopard sent messengers to all the towns in his district, inviting the folk on a certain day to come and see the wonder. On the day a great crowd of people arrived, and when all was ready the Leopard went into the centre, and his head was cut off, but his legs gave way, and he fell down.
The head was returned after being combed and cleaned, but when they put it on the neck it would not stay there. Thus died the Leopard because of his conceit in thinking he could do all that others did; and also because he did not use his common sense to perceive the foolishness of what the Fowl told him. Do not believe all you see and hear.
II
Why the Small-ant was the Winner
One day a fierce Driver-ant[[70]] and a Small-ant had a long discussion as to which of them was the stronger. The Driver-ant boasted of his size, the strength of his mandibles, and the fierceness of his bite.
“Yes, all that may be true,” quietly answered the Small-ant, “and yet with all your size and strong jaws you cannot do what I can do.”