Soon they met some travelers, and when the travelers saw the two bags of cowries, they asked the Rabbit if the large one was his, and when he said it was, they laughed. After they had passed by the Elephant said, “I told you to say that the large bag was mine.”
“Oh, yes, so you did,” said the Rabbit. “I forgot.”
The Elephant was growing more and more angry, and he said to himself, “What if I leave him to travel alone with his big bag of cowries? We shall see how long he will keep it.”
At the next bend in the trail the Elephant turned aside into the forest. Soon he met a Lion, and said to him, “A Rabbit back there is traveling alone with a large bag of cowries.”
“Good!” said the Lion. “I will eat that Rabbit and carry off his treasure,” and away he bounded through the forest.
Then the Elephant met a Buffalo, and said to him, “A silly little Rabbit back there has a large bag of cowries.”
“That is very pleasant,” said the Buffalo. “I will kill that Rabbit and steal his treasure,” and off he trampled through the swamp.
Soon the Elephant met a Hyena, and said to him, “There is a foolish young Rabbit all alone back there with a great bag of cowries.”
“How kind of you!” said the Hyena. “I will crack the bones of that Rabbit and get his treasure,” and off he trotted across the plain.