White Leopard ceased speaking, and Sa'-zada, putting his hand in between the bars, patted his paw, and said: "Poor old Chita! it may not be so nice here as in your own land, but we'll see that you do not go hungry, anyway. Now, Rufous, my big Yellow Leopard, you should also have an interesting account of yourself to give."
"Quite likely," exclaimed Magh; "we'll hear some more rare boasting, I'll warrant."
"A true tale is no boast," said Mooswa, solemnly. "I, who have had strange adventures, think it no harm to talk them over."
"Oh, you'll have a chance, Fat Nose!" retorted Magh; "but first let us have a good, hearty lie from Leopard."
"There will be no lies," declared Sa'-zada, "for I have all these matters in The Book—though they are not half so interestingly written, I must say, as you can tell them yourselves, if you are so minded."
"Phrut!" muttered Hathi through his big trunk. "We'll have the lies as spice—that will be when Magh's turn comes."
Thus appealed to, Yellow Leopard commenced: "I came from a jungle land—Burma."
"My home," muttered Hathi, longingly.
"It may have been the year White Chita speaks of, for I remember I was also wondrous hungry——"
"You always are," sneered Magh.