The Leopard and the Mouse-deer
In a jungle wilderness in the midst of the forest there is a rock cave. In the cave a Leopard dwells. One day when the Leopard had gone for food a lame female Mouse-deer (Mīminnī) crept into the cave, and gave birth to two young ones.
Afterwards the Mouse-deer having seen that the Leopard, having got wet at the time of a very great rainfall, was coming to the cave, began to beat the young ones, so the young ones began to squall. Then the Mouse-deer came out, saying, “There is fresh Leopard’s flesh, there is dried Leopard’s flesh; what else shall I give you? Having eaten these, still you are crying in order to eat fresh Leopard’s flesh!”
As the Mouse-deer was saying it, the Leopard heard it, and thought, “They are going to eat me,” and having become afraid, sprang off and ran away, thinking, “I will go to my Preceptor, and tell him.”
Having gone to him, the Jackal said, “What is it, Sir? You are running as though afraid. Why?” he asked.
The Leopard then replied, “Preceptor, the danger that has happened to me is thus: A Mouse-deer having crept into the cave that I live in, and having borne young ones there, as I was returning came shouting and springing to eat me. Through fear of it I came running away,” he said to the Jackal.
The Jackal then said, “What of that! Don’t be afraid. I will come with you and go there. As soon as I go I will bite her and cast her out.”
As they went near the cave, the Leopard having lagged a very little behind, said, “Friend, I cannot go, I cannot go.”
Then the Jackal said, “If you are afraid to that extent, be so good as to go after tying a creeper to my neck, and tying the other end to your waist, Sir,” he said to the Leopard.
So bringing a creeper, and tying one end to the Jackal’s neck, and tying the other end to the Leopard’s waist, they set off to go to the cave.