"You did," said the Jackal.
"Don't tell lies," said the Camel; "where are your witnesses?"
Away trotted the Jackal to find a witness. First he asked the Lion if he would bear witness that he heard the Camel promise to give his tongue. He promised to give him the half of all he should get, as a reward.
"Go away," said the King of Beasts; "I am a Lion, not a liar."
Then he asked the Tiger, but the Tiger said—
"I don't care for Camel's meat, so it isn't worth my while."
And so the Jackal tried one beast after another, but none of them would help him, until he came to the Wolf.
"Friend Wolf," said the Jackal, "if you will only swear that you heard the Camel promise me his tongue, you shall have half."
"Half a tongue?" quoth the Wolf; "that's poor provender."
"No, no," said the Jackal, "half the Camel. Don't you see that if we tear out his tongue, the Camel will soon bleed to death."