the animals all came back, and when they saw the rabbit
lying with his paws tied, they said to him: 'Rabbit, how did you let
yourself be taken in like this?'

'It was all the fault of the jackal,' replied the rabbit; 'he tied me
up like this, and told me he would give me something nice to eat. It was
all a trick just to get at our water.'

'Rabbit, you are no better than an idiot to have let the jackal drink
our water when he would not help to find it. Who shall be our next
watchman? We must have somebody a little sharper than you!' and the
little hare called out, 'I will be the watchman.'

The following morning the animals all went their various ways, leaving
the little hare to guard the spring. When they were out of sight the
jackal came back. 'Good morning! good morning, little hare,' and the
little hare politely said, 'Good morning.'

'Can you give me a pinch of snuff?' said the jackal.

'I am so sorry, but I have none,' answered the little hare.

The jackal then came and sat down by the little hare, and unfastened his
little bag, pulling out of it a piece of honeycomb. He licked his lips
and exclaimed, 'Oh, little hare, if you only knew how good it is!'

'What is it?' asked the little hare.

'It is something that moistens my throat so deliciously,' answered the
jackal, 'that after I have eaten it I don't feel thirsty any more, while
I am sure that all you other beasts are for ever wanting water.'

'Give me a bit, dear friend,' asked the little hare.

'Not so fast,' replied the jackal. 'If you really wish to enjoy what
you are eating, you must have your paws tied behind you, and lie on your
back, so that I can pour it into your mouth.'

'You can tie them, only be quick,' said the little hare, and when he was
tied tight and popped on his back, the jackal went quietly down to the
well, and drank as much as he wanted. When he had quite finished he
returned to his den.

In the evening the animals all came back; and when they saw the little
hare with his paws tied, they said to him: 'Little hare, how did you let
yourself be taken in like this? Didn't you boast you were very sharp?
You undertook to guard our water; now show us how much is left for us to
drink!'

'It is all the fault of the jackal,' replied the little hare. 'He told
me he would give me something nice to eat if I would just let him tie my
hands behind my back.'

Then the animals said, 'Who can we trust to mount guard now?' And the
panther