The Leopard waited a long time for the Gazelle, and then, thinking he was drowned, he returned to the town. On drawing near to the house he heard a great noise, and as he ran he shouted out: “Hold the thief tightly until I come.”
What was his surprise to find the Gazelle held fast by the nkondi. “Oh, you are the thief, no wonder you wanted to bathe first!” said the Leopard, as he hit him.
“Unfasten me, Uncle Leopard,” begged the Gazelle.
“No, I am going to eat first and undo you afterwards,” laughed the Leopard. So he sat down and ate and chuckled, and chuckled and ate, until all the goat was finished; then he unstuck the Gazelle, and gave him a good sound thrashing for the tricks he had played on him, and let him go covered with aches, pains and bruises.
XXII
The Leopard pays Homage to the Goat
The natives say that there was a time when the Leopard paid homage to the Goat because of his beard and horns, but he discovered the Goat’s weakness in the following manner--
One day, while the Leopard was cutting a palm-tree for wine, a Billy-goat arrived at the wine-booth and bleated loudly: “Be--e, Leopard!”
The Leopard listened, and said, “What great chief is that calling me?”
“Be--e, Leopard,” again cried the Goat.