"You were snared," declared Sa'-zada; "I know, I've seen it. A strong green bamboo bent down, the snare fastened to it, and once over your paw—no wonder you were on your hind legs most of the time like a dancing Dervish."
"Why did you not bite it off?" queried Wolf.
"Neither would you," answered Leopard; "though I tried. The evil-minded Men seemed to know just what I would do, and had put a big loose bamboo over the cord. It was always down against my paw, and simply whirled about from my teeth."
"Why didn't you trumpet?" asked Elephant.
"I haven't a bugle nose like you, Brother; but I roared till the jungle shook in fear—even at the risk of bringing about me the Jungle Dogs, who hunt in packs, as you all know."
"Whee-ugh!" whined Boar; "Baola, the mad kind. Nothing can stand against them. When they drive, the jungle is swept clean. Better to die in peace than make a noise and be torn to pieces by their ugly fangs."
"And who came?" queried Magh. "I suppose you were like the Bullock, and your eyes grew big with the fear, and you begged them to go away and not hurt you. It was all right when you were to make the kill yourself—it was fine sport. Bah! I'm glad you were snared—I hate a taker of life."
"The Men-kind came," answered Leopard meekly, for the mention of his fear made him abashed; "and seeing that I was caught, a Sahib would not let the Black-Men kill me, but set them to make a strong Bamboo cage. I was put in that and sent here to Sa'-zada."
"I've been thinking," began Mooswa, plaintively.
"Well, now!" exclaimed Magh; "I thought you were asleep, Old Heavy-eye. If you think with your nose, your thoughts must have been of great importance."