The bull and the hound talked as they ran. The bull said he thought the wolves would soon grow tired, fall back, and give up the chase. But he was wrong. They were too angry at being outwitted.
"You think to take our game from us," they howled at the bull. "But we will eat hound meat to-night."
The bull saw it was a run for life. All day he ran. For a time it was easy to outrun the wolves and panthers, but at last they began to press hard upon him.
As the sun dropped out of the sky, the bull felt his knees begin to weaken. The weight of the hound was telling on him. A moment later, he stumbled and fell.
In an instant, the pack was upon them. But with one leap, the hound cleared the pack and was off down the trail.
The weaker wolves and panthers leaped upon the bull. The stronger went on.
But now the best of them were no match for the hound. He was fresh and strong, for he had been riding all day. They were tired and worn from the long chase, and soon they gave it up.
Because the hound is able to save his strength for the end of the chase, he can now outrun not only wolves and panthers, but all the other animals.