“No,” said the Mouse, “she is mine. Accept of two pigs for dinner.”
When the Elephant heard that, he began to beat the Mouse, but the Mouse entered his trunk and gave him such pain that the Elephant cried: “Come out, and I will give you two pigs.” The Mouse came out, received his two pigs, and went off with his wife.
They reached another camping-place, and while resting and eating there, the Buffalo arrived. “Welcome to you, father,” said the Mouse. But the Buffalo did not want his welcome, and said he had married the woman, and when the Mouse would not give her up, the Buffalo hit him on the back with a stick. The Mouse entered the Buffalo’s ear and gave him so much pain that he bellowed: “Come out, and I will give you five sheep.” The Mouse came out, received his five sheep, and went away with his wife.
As they journeyed along they met the Hyena, who said: “Why, that is my wife,” and when the Mouse denied it, the Hyena became very angry, and beat the Mouse about in his weakness and made him cry. The Mouse called the Squirrels, who came and fought the Hyena, and while they were fighting, the Mouse hurried off with his wife.
They travelled until they came to a high plateau, where they met a large Rat, who said: “Give me that woman.”
To him the Mouse replied: “I cannot give her, for I have had plenty of trouble to gain her.”
“Very well,” answered the Rat; “let us go to the drinking-booth, and I will give you some palm-wine.”
While sitting there the Mouse took a rat’s head out of his bag.
“Where did you get that?” asked the Rat.
“Oh,” boasted the Mouse, “I have eaten nine rats, and you will be the tenth.” So alarmed was the Rat that he ran away and never said “Good-bye.”