“The buffaloes told us that an earthquake is coming,” said the tigers.
“Who saw it coming?” said the lion.
“We don’t know,” said the tigers. “The elephants know.”
“The rhinoceroses told us,” said the elephants.
“And we heard it from the buffaloes,” said the rhinoceroses, panting for breath.
The buffaloes heard it from the elks; the elks heard it from the deer; and at last it got down to the timid hare.
“Do you mean to tell me,” roared the lion, “that you have all been frightened to death by a timid little hare? Let us go to the grove of palm-trees, and witness this terrible earthquake.”
When they arrived there, the fruit was still pattering to the ground.
“Now, you see,” said the lion, “what comes of following the lead of the most timorous creature on earth. He has made you all more cowardly than he is himself. You ran away without even hearing the noise that frightened him. Henceforward avoid the gossip of the crowd, and trust to your own judgment.”