Some months later the man’s father died. When Tiger heard of his friend’s great loss, he and his cub set out at once to see and condole with him. They brought a large sum of money to help the man.
As Tiger was going home again two of the man’s friends lay in hiding for him and shot him. Fortunately he was not killed, but he was very much grieved lest these men had shot him at his friend’s wish. He determined to find out if the man had known anything at all about the shot.
Accordingly he went to the place in the forest where he had first met his friend. There he lay down as if he were dead, after telling his cub to watch and see what would happen.
By and by the man came along. When he saw the tiger lying, as he thought, dead, he was terribly troubled. He began to cry and mourn for his friend, and sat there all night long with Tiger’s cub, to watch that no harm should befall the body.
When morning came and Tiger was quite assured that his friend had had nothing at all to do with the shot, he was very glad. He got up, then, to the [[169]]man’s great astonishment, and explained why he had pretended to be dead.
“Go home,” said Tiger, “and remember me always. In future for your sake I will never touch a man unless he first meddles with me.” [[171]]
XXXIV. THE OMANHENE WHO LIKED RIDDLES
The Omanhene is the chief of a village. A certain Omanhene had three sons, who were very anxious to see the world. They went to their father and asked permission to travel. This permission he readily gave.
It was the turn of the eldest to go first. He was provided with a servant and with all he could possibly require for the journey.