When the Lion and his family had returned, the Jackal and his family had eaten half of the elephant and were dancing.
"You little rascal!" roared the Lion, "have you deceived me again?"
"Not a bit of it," replied the Jackal. "See that little bird lying dead there? That is the messenger of the new laws. By accident I killed it. The new law requires that the one who kills such a bird, and his family, must eat half the meat present as a punishment; and such a punishment as it has been! But for this new dance my wife invented we should all be dead. This means that you would be dead, too. The life of the Jackal in such a case goes into the bird. It becomes ten times as powerful as a Lion and kills everyone it meets. See?"
"I do," replied the Lion, "and thanks again for my head and voice. Let me remind you, Brother Jackal, that my wife and family are not likely to die at present from over-eating."
"Let me remind you, Brother Lion, that one more speech like that from you will put life into that bird, and you will never eat another dinner."
"Thanks, Brother Jackal, for your wisdom and kindness. Let's build the tower."
In a short time the tower was erected.
"How are we to get the meat up?" asked the Lion.
"Oh," said the Jackal, "my wife, who invented the dance, has invented a rope to pull the meat up with."
"I am glad to hear that, Brother Jackal," said the Lion, "for my wife, who is rather dull, may learn many things from yours."