“Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!” cried the Jackal, wringing its paws. “Let me see! how did it all begin? You were in the cage, and the Tiger came walking by—”
“Pooh!” interrupted the Tiger, “what a fool you are! I was in the cage.”
“Of course!” cried the Jackal, pretending to tremble with fright; “yes I was in the cage—no I wasn’t—dear! dear, where are my wits? Let me see—the Tiger was in the Brahman, and the cage came walking by—no, that’s not it, either! Well, don’t mind me, but begin your dinner, for I shall never understand!”
“Yes, you shall!” returned the Tiger, in a rage at the Jackal’s stupidity; “I’ll make you understand! Look here—I am the Tiger—”
“Yes, my lord!”
“And that is the Brahman—”
“Yes, my lord!”
“And that is the cage—”
“Yes, my lord!”
“And I was in the cage—do you understand?”