rdess.

"Well, you see, mistress, I fear you do not understand the nature of
dogs very well. You must know dogs delight in marrow, and often prefer
it to meat. The latter by itself is good, but however plentiful and
good it may be, without an occasional morsel of marrow it is apt to
pall. Dogs also love to sharpen their teeth on bones and screw their
tongues within the holes for the sake of the rich juice. By itself,
marrow would not fatten my ribs; but meat with marrow is most
delectable. Now, good mistress, seeing that I have been so faithful in
your service, so docile and prompt to do your bidding, will you not be
gracious enough to let me gnaw the bones and extract the marrow?"

"No," roared Leopardess decisively, "that is positively forbidden; and
let me warn you that the day you venture to do so, a strange event will
happen suddenly, which shall have most serious consequences to you and
to all in this house.

"And you, Jackal, bear what I say well in mind," she continued, turning
to that servile subordinate.

"Yes, mistress; I will, most certainly. Indeed, I do not care very
greatly for bones," said Jackal, "and I hope my friend and mate, Dog,
will remember, good mistress, what you say."

"I hear, mistress," replied Dog, "and since it is your will, I must
needs obey."

The alarming words of Leopardess had the effect of compelling Dog and
Jackal for awhile to desist from even thinking of marrow, and the
entreaty of Dog appeared to be forgotten by Leopardess, though Jackal
was well aware, by the sparkles in the covetous eyes of Dog when any
large bone was near him, how difficult it was for him to resist the
temptation. Day after day Leopardess sallied out from her den, and
returned with kids, goats, sheep, antelopes, zebra, and often a young
giraffe; and one day she brought a great buffalo to her household, and
cubs and servants came running to greet her, and praise her successful
hunting.

On this day Dog undertook to prepare the dinner. The buffalo-meat was
cooked in exquisite fashion, and when it was turned out of the great
pot, steaming and trickling over everywhere with juice, Dog caught sight
of a thigh-bone and yellow marrow glistening within. The temptation to
steal it was too great to resist. He contrived to drop the bone back
again into the pot, furnished the tray quickly with the meat, and sent
Jackal with it to Leopardess, saying that he would follow with the
kabobs and stew. As soon