“‘See,’ said the first elephant, ‘what I have done. It was I that killed him. I lifted him on high, and, lo! he lies like a rotten banana. Do you not think I am very strong? Come, be frank now, and give me some credit for what I have done.’
“Elephant No. 2 replied: ‘It is true that you are strong, but that was only a young lion. There are others of his kind, and I have seen them, who would give you considerable trouble.’
“‘Ho, ho!’ laughed the first elephant. ‘Get out, stupid! You may bring his whole tribe here, and I will show you what I can do. Ay, and to your dam to boot.’
“‘What! My own mother, too!’
“‘Yes. Go and fetch her if you like.’
“‘Well, well,’ said No. 2, ‘you are far gone, there is no doubt. Fare you well.’
“No. 2 proceeded on his wanderings, resolved in his own mind that, if he had an opportunity, he would send some one to test the boaster’s strength. No. 1 called out to him:
“‘Away you go. Good-by to you.’
“A little way on, No. 2 elephant met a lion and lioness, full grown, and splendid creatures, who turned out to be the parents of the youngster which had been slain, and he said to them, after a sociable chat:
“‘If you go further on along the path I came, you will meet a kind of game which requires killing badly. He has just mangled your cub.’