“No, Brother Wolf, it is me,” replied the Sheep. “Brother Goat has gone away to get himself something to eat and drink.”
“And are you all alone, Sister Sheep?” asked the Wolf.
“Yes, Brother Wolf,” replied the Sheep.
On hearing this the Wolf dashed out of his den, and seizing hold of the poor Sheep he quickly slew her.
The Wolf now realised that he had been made game of by the Sheep and the Goat and became very angry. So he started off to hunt for the Goat, vowing vengeance against him. As soon as the Goat caught sight of the Wolf coming along in the distance he guessed what had happened, and fled as fast as he could across the hills with the Wolf after him. They soon came to some rough, rocky ground, and here the Goat missed his footing and fell into a deep, narrow cleft between two rocks, breaking [[63]]his leg; and the Wolf, who had not seen what had happened, jumped over the crevice and pursued his way, still hunting for the Goat.
For some time the poor Goat lay helpless at the bottom of the crevice, when by chance a Fox, who happened to be passing that way, heard him moaning and came to see what was wrong.
“Good-morning, Brother Goat,” said the Fox, peering down into the cleft. “What has happened to you, and why do you lie there moaning?”
“Oh! Brother Fox,” replied the Goat, “I have had a terrible misfortune. I am Pen-dzong the Goat, and I and my friend Da-gye the Sheep hunted a Wolf into his lair this morning and tried to frighten him by telling him that we were going to skin him; and while I was away getting myself something to drink and eat the Wolf came out of his den and killed my poor friend Da-gye the Sheep, and then proceeded to chase me. But I, as you see, fell down into this cleft and have broken my leg. I am unable to move, and the Wolf jumped over the crevice as I lay here and has gone right away. I have one dying request to make to you, however. I beg you when I am dead to strip off my skin and to hand it over to my young ones as a mat for them to lie on, and in return for this service you can have my flesh for yourself.”
The Fox was much affected on hearing the Goat’s tale, and promised to do as he asked. So when the Goat died shortly after the Fox stripped off his skin, and set off with it to hand it over to the Goat’s young ones. As [[64]]he was going along, carrying the skin on his back, he chanced to come across a Hare.
“Good-day, Brother Fox,” said the Hare. “Where are you going to, and what is that you have on your back?”