burnt, to-morrow I am having a working-bee." So he (Wild Cat) said,—"Very well, but do not tell the Dog." He (Spider) said,—"Oh, no." When he left, he went straight to the Dog's house. He said,—"My house is burnt. To-morrow I am having a bee." He (Dog) said,—"A bee for what?" He (Spider) said,—"A bee for roofing." He (Dog) said,—"Very well, but do not tell the Hyæna." He (Spider) said,—"Oh, no, you will not meet with her." When he left, (he went) straight to the Hyæna's house. He (Spider) said,—"To-morrow I am having a bee." She said,—"Very well, but do not tell the Leopard." He said,—"No." He left, (and went straight) to the Leopard's house. He said,—"To-morrow I am having a bee." He (Leopard) said,—"Very well. May God preserve (take) us, but do not tell the Lion." He (Spider) said,—"No." He left, (and went) straight to the Lion's house. He (Spider) said,—"Peace be to you." He (Lion) said,—"On you be peace." He (Spider) said,—"O Great One, big Brother of the Forest," and said,—"To-morrow I am having a bee." He said,—"Very well." So the Spider returned home. When he had returned home, in the morning[1] lo! the Fowl came to tie the grass. She was (in the midst of) tying the grass when the Wild Cat came (lit. see the Wild Cat). So the Wild Cat said,—"Peace be upon you, O Spider." Then the Fowl said,—"Ah, Spider, I said you were not to tell the Wild Cat. Did you just go straight and tell him?" Then the Spider said,—"Well, hide in this grass." Then the Wild Cat went and caught the Fowl, (and) killed it. When this had happened (so it was), the Spider said,—"Well done. Bring (it) here that I may put (it) by for (you)." So the Wild Cat said,—"Very well." Thus it was when the Dog (came), and said,—"Ah, Spider, where is the roofing (to be done)?" So the Spider showed him the place where the Wild Cat was hiding, and said,—"Oh here it is." So the Dog seized the Wild Cat and killed (it), and the Spider said,—"Well done. Bring (it) for me to keep for you." So the Dog was making the roof when the Hyæna arrived. When she came, she said,—"Where is the roofing (to be done?)" Then he (Spider) showed her where the Dog was. Then he (Dog) said,—"Ah, I said you were not to (do not) tell her." So the Hyæna
- ↑ Next day, of course.
