Presently whom should he see but the elephant swinging along the road toward him.
The rabbit cried out still louder, and made out as though he could scarcely drag himself along for his wounds.
“What has happened to you, friend Deer? And who has wounded you in this way?” asked the elephant.
“Oh, that Rabbit! That Rabbit! And I was only doing as you told me.”
“The Rabbit?”
“Yes; oh, indeed good Master Elephant, he is very terrible. He came to eat in the woods where I was and I tried to drive him away, because you had told us all to do that, but as soon as I spoke to him, he threw me down and beat me and almost tore me to pieces, as you see.”
“That is strange,” said the elephant. “I did not know he was as strong as that.”
“Oh, yes; he is small, but he knows much magic. No one could stand against him, not even you. And he is very angry. He says he is going to tear you to pieces too, and the whale, and he only left me alive so that I might come and tell you.”
“But he could not kill me!” cried the elephant.
“His magic is very strong. I am afraid, now that he is angry, that he will kill all the animals in the world, and keep it for himself.”