The Elephant and the Leopard lived in the same town and married their wives about the same time. By and by the Leopard’s wife gave birth to two children, and the Elephant’s wife gave birth to one. Some time after this happened the Elephant had to go on a trading journey into a distant country, so he left his son in the care of the Leopard.
One day the Leopard, his sons, and the young Elephant all went hunting in the big bush. The Leopard showed his sons the animals’ tracks, taught them where to stand and what to do; but as for the Elephant’s son he took no notice of him, did not instruct him, and left him to do what he could.
In a little time an antelope started up, and the Leopard’s first son fired and missed, and the second son fired and also missed. Then the antelope ran by where the young Elephant happened to be, and he shot it. Thereupon the Leopard and his sons ran up and claimed the antelope as theirs, and as the Elephant had no one to take his side he had to give way. This occurred three times, and then the young Elephant would not hunt with them any more.
After some months the old Elephant returned from his long trading expedition, and his son told him all that had happened to him, and how he had been cheated by his guardian. When the Elephant heard it he was very angry, and said: “All right, I will punish the Leopard for defrauding you.” They then dug a large hole in their house, put some twigs and branches over it, and spread a mat over the whole. Then they put the saucepans on the fire, and the Elephant bought some palm-wine and asked the Leopard to come and drink with him, which invitation he at once accepted.
When the Leopard arrived they told him to sit on the mat, and as he sat down the mat gave way under him, and he fell into the deep hole underneath. The Elephant said: “I left my son with you, and instead of taking care of him you cheated him every time he went hunting with you,” and he followed his words by pouring the boiling water over the Leopard. Thus died the Leopard for being false to his trust.
XXV
How the Leopard tried to deceive the Gazelle
Once the Leopard and the Gazelle had a very bad quarrel, and ever since then the Leopard has been trying to catch and kill the Gazelle, but has failed in every attempt.
The Leopard, having tried many other ways of entrapping the Gazelle, at last pretended to be sick. He rubbed some powdered ironstone on his face and instructed his wives to send messengers for the Palm-rat, the Mongoose, and all the other animals, and also for the Gazelle. When they were all gathered except the Gazelle they went in one by one to see the Leopard, and he killed them; but he thought that he had all the trouble for nothing as the Gazelle had not arrived, so he asked his wives what they were to do now to catch the Gazelle. They advised him to send for a “medicine man,” and then the Gazelle would be sure to think he was really ill. While they were searching for a “medicine man” the Gazelle arrived, but he would not enter the house.
The “medicine man” arrived with his charms, and while he made “medicine” he sang--