tion of him, asked Jackal what work he
could do. Jackal replied humbly and fawningly, and said that he could
fetch water from the brook, collect fuel, sweep out the house, and was
willing, if necessary, to cook now and then, as he was not a novice in
the art of cooking; and, looking at Leopardess, "I am very fond of cubs,
and am very clever in nursing them." Mistress Leopardess, on hearing
this, seemed to be impressed with the abilities of Jackal, and, without
waiting for the advice of Dog, engaged him at once, and said:

"Jackal, you must understand that my custom is to feed my servants well.
What is left from my table is so abundant that I have heard no
complaints from any who have been with me. Therefore you need fear no
starvation, but while you may depend upon being supplied with plenty of
meat, the bones must not be touched. Dog shall be your companion, but
neither he nor anyone else is permitted to touch the bones."

"I shall be quite content, Mistress Leopardess. Meat is good enough for
me, and for good meat you may depend upon it I shall give good work."

The household of Mistress Leopardess was completed; she suffered no
anxiety, and enjoyed herself in her own way. The chase was her great
delight. The forest and plains were alive with game, and each morning
at sunrise it was her custom to set out for the hunt, and scarcely a day
passed but she returned with sufficient meat to fatten her household.
Dog and Jackal expressed themselves delighted with the luscious repasts
which they enjoyed, and a sleek roundness witnessed that they fared
nobly. But as it frequently happens with people who have everything
they desire, Dog, in a short while, became more nice and fastidious in
his tastes. He hankered after the bones which were forbidden him, and
was heard to sigh deeply whenever Mistress Leopardess collected the
bones and stored them in the interior, and his eyes became filled with
tears as he eyed the rich morsels stowed away. His feelings at last
becoming intolerable, he resolved to appeal to his mistress one day, as
she appeared to be in a more amiable mood than usual, and said:

"Mistress, thanks to you, the house is always well supplied with meat,
and none of your servants have any reason to think that they will ever
suffer the pangs of hunger; but, speaking for myself, mistress mine, I
wish for one thing more, if you will be so good as to grant it."

"And what may that be, greedy one?" asked Leopa