| Story -
The Foolish Lion |
 |
In a certain jungle lived a lion. He was a very powerful lion and very strong, as most lions
are. He would roam in the forest freely. Whenever he found a healthy looking animal - a
grazing buffalo, a tender hare or a timid deer, he would pounce upon it, and tear it to pieces
and make a tasty meal of it.
One day, he roamed and roamed, but could not find a single animal. Whenever the animals
heard his echoing roar, they trembled and scurried to their little hideouts.
The sun set. Dusk and darkness descended upon the jungle. The lion, tired after his fruitless search, came upon
a cave. An idea struck him. It was dark now and the animal living in that cave would soon be
coming home. So he decided he would wait, and when the animal came he would eat it up.
He hid in a dark corner of the cave and waited.
After some time a fox came there. The cave was his abode. But foxes, as you know, are
very cunning. He saw footsteps leading to his cave, but not coming out of it. And the
footsteps looked like those of a lion. So the fox decided to be sure before he entered the
cave. But now could he know, unless he entered the cave? After much thought, he hit upon
an idea.
He called out, "Hallow, there, cave, dear friend." The lion got excited when he heard the
voice of an animal call out. Ash! Now it would not be very long before he would have his
long-awaited meal. His pangs of hunger grew sharper and his mouth watered! He did not say
anything. He waited.
The fox, getting no answer, called out again, "My dear cave. Have you forgotten our
agreement to greet each other whenever I leave or enter you? Or is it that there is a wild
animal hiding in you, and you are not answering out of fear?"
The lion thought, "Better not leave room for suspicion. May be the cave is not answering
because I am in it. Better answer and remove all doubts." So, he called back, "O, hello,
friend. I did not answer you before because I was thinking of something else. Do come in."
The fox waiting outside was now satisfied. He slipped away slyly - chuckling to himself, his
eyes twinkling with mischief. He had hood winked the lion and saved his own neck!
And The foolish lion went hungry!!!
|
