ed on.

Vexed and annoyed, Elephant cried angrily to Rabbit, "Why did you not
answer as I told you? Now mind, do as I tell you at the next meeting
with strangers."

"Very well," answered Rabbit, "I will try and remember."

By-and-by they met another party going home with fowls and palm wine,
who, when they came up, said, "Ah that is a fine beast, and in prime
order. Whose is it?"

"It is mine," quickly replied Rabbit, "and the little scabby heifer
belongs to Elephant."

This answer enraged Elephant, who said, "What an obstinate little fool
you are. Did you not hear me ask you to say it was mine? Now,
remember, you are to say so next time, or I leave you to find your own
way home, because I know you are a horrible little coward."

"Very well, I'll do it next time," replied Rabbit in a meek voice.

In a short time they met another crowd, which stopped when opposite to
them, and the people said, "Really, that is an exceedingly fine cow. To
which of you does it belong?"

"It is mine. I bought it from the Watusi," replied Rabbit.

The Elephant was so angry this time, that he broke away from Rabbit, and
drove his little heifer by another road, and to Lion, and Hyena, and
Buffalo, and Leopard, whom he met, he said what a fine fat cow was being
driven by cowardly little Rabbit along the other road. He did this out
of mere spite, hoping that some one of them would be tempted to take it
by force from Rabbit.

But Rabbit was wise, and had seen the spite in Elephant's face as he
went off, and was sure that he would play him some unkind trick; and, as
night was falling and his home was far, and he knew that there were many
vagabonds lying in wait to rob poor travellers, he reflected that if his
wit failed to save him he would be in great danger.

True enough, it was not long before a big blustering lion rose from the
side of the road, and cried out, "Hello, you there. Where are you going
with that cow? Come, speak out."

"Ah, is that you, Lion? I am taking it to Mugassa (the deity), who is
about to give a feast to all his friends, and he told me particularly to
invite you to share it, if I should meet you."

"Eh? What? To Mugassa? Oh, well, I am proud to have met you, Rabbit.
As I am not otherwise engaged I will accompany you, because everyone
considers it an honour to wait upon Mugassa."

They proceeded a little further, and a bouncing buffalo came up and
bellowed fiercely. "You, Rabbit, stop," said h