CONTOH 40 TEKS NARATIV HEWAN BAHASA INGGRIS

ELEPHANT AND FRIENDS

One day an elephant wandered into a forest in search of friends. He saw a monkey on a tree. “Will you be my friend?” asked the elephant. Replied the monkey, “You are too big. You can not swing from trees like me.” Next, the elephant met a rabbit. He asked him to be his friends. But the rabbit said, “You are too big to play in my burrow!” Then the elephant met a frog.

“Will you be my friend? He asked.

“How can I?” asked the frog.

“You are too big to leap about like me.”

The elephant was upset. He met a fox next.

“Will you be my friend?” he asked the fox.

The fox said, “Sorry, sir, you are too big.”

The next day, the elephant saw all the animals in the forest running for their lives. The elephant asked them what the matter was. The bear replied, “There is a tiger in the forest. He’s trying to gobble us all up!” The animals all ran away to hide. The elephant wondered what he could do to solve everyone in the forest. Meanwhile, the tiger kept eating up whoever he could find. The elephant walked up to the tiger and said, “Please, Mr. Tiger, do not eat up these poor animals.”

“Mind your own business!” growled the tiger.

The elephant has a no choice but to give the tiger a hefty kick. The frightened tiger ran for his life. The elephant ambled back into the forest to announce the good news to everyone. All the animals thanked the elephant. They said, “You are just the right size to be our friend.”

A TOWN MOUSE AND A COUNTRY MOUSE

A Town Mouse and a Country Mouse were friends. The Country Mouse one day invited his friend to come and see him at his home in the fields. The Town Mouse came and they sat down to a dinner of barleycorns and roots the latter of which had a distinctly earthy flavour.

The flavour was not much to the taste of the guest and presently he broke out with “My poor dear friend, you live here no better than the ants. Now, you should just see how I fare! My larder is a regular horn of plenty. You must come and stay with me and I promise you shall live on the fat of the land.”

So when he returned to town he took the Country Mouse with him and showed him into a larder containing flour and oatmeal and figs and honey and dates.

The Country Mouse had never seen anything like it and sat down to enjoy the luxuries his friend provided. But before they had well begun, the door of the larder opened and some one came in. The two Mice scampered off and hid themselves in a narrow and exceedingly uncomfortable hole. Presently, when all was quiet, they ventured out again. But some one else came in, and off they scuttled again. This was too much for the visitor. “Good bye,” said he, “I’m off. You live in the lap of luxury, I can see, but you are surrounded by dangers whereas at home I can enjoy my simple dinner of roots and corn in peace.”

HUNGRY WOLF

Oneday, a wolf was very hungry. It looked for food here and there. But it couldn’t get any. At last it found a loaf of bread and piece of meat in the hole of a tree.

The hungry wolf squeezed into the hole. It ate all the food. It was a woodcutter’s lunch. He was on his way back to the tree to have lunch. But he saw there was no food in the hole, instead, a wolf. On seeing the woodcutter, the wolf tried to get out of the hole. But it couldn’t. Its tummy was swollen. The woodcutter caught the wolf and gave it nice beatings.

KANCIL AND THE GIANT STORY

One beautiful morning Kancil decided to fish in a certain river. On the way he met his friend, Swine, who stopped him for a chat. When Swine heard that Kancil wanted to go fishing, he asked whether he could join him, Kancil did not object, as Swine promised to help him with the work. The two of them went on together and soon they met Tiger and Elephant. When they heard that Kancil and Swine were going to the river, they decide to go along, too. And so the four animals went together to the river to fish.
Narrative Text Fable - Kancil and the giant Story

When they arrived at the river bank, Kancil immediately began to give orders left and right. Elephant had to dam the river with stones and tree trunks. Tiger and Swine had to throw away the river water while Kancil himself set out to catch the fish left on the dry river bed. There were, however, few fish, so they decided to go further down the river to try their lick again. Kancil ordered Swine to stay behind with their catch. He himself went with Tiger and Elephant further downstream where the tree of them began their work all over again.
Narrative Text Fable - Kancil and the giant Story

Meanwhile, a giant came to the place where Swine sat. As soon as he saw the glittering fish, he grabbed them greedily and stuffied them what into his mouth. It was useless for Swine to protect and the giant did not even listen to him. Swine ran toward his friends and told them had happened. Of course, the three others were bot very pleased.

Narrative Text Fable - Kancil and the giant Story
The second time, too, they did not catch enough fish. did not even listen to him. Ordered Tiger to

stay behind with their second catch, while he, Swine and Elephant went further away to dam the river at another place. As soon as the three of them were out of sight, the hungry giant came from behind the bushes and ate up all the fish. Tiger snarled angrily, but he did not dare to fight the giant.

Narrative Text Fable - Kancil and the giant Story
When the other animals came back with their catch they found a very ashamed Tiger without a

single fish. Kancil scolded him until he became red in the face. Now it was Elephant’s turn to play guard.

“You are so big. Friend Elephant. Certainly, we can trust you to defend our fish,” said Kancil.

For the third time the giant came to eat the fish. When Elephant saw how big he was, he became afraid and let the giant steal their fish. Kancil and the others came back, they found the basket empty again. Kancil was very angry with his three friends. He shouted, “What’s the use of having such big and strong bodies, if you can’t even chase away one single giant. This time I will stay here myself. Do you think I am too small to do this job? Go away , the three of you, and catch as a many fish as you can. When you come back, you will find that robber lying here in front of me, bound and helpless.”

Narrative Text Fable - Kancil and the giant Story
After Swine, Tiger and Elephant had gone away, Kancil plucked a big bunch of reeds from the

river side. He tied these reeds around his body. Then lying down under the nearest tree, he bound the reed ends to the roots of the tree. He was very busy tying himself when the giant came. Kancil pretended not to see him and went on with his work. The giant became curious and instead of grabbing the fish he stopped to look sown at Kancil and asked what he was doing.

“Well. Well. Don’t you know what is going happen today?” asked Kancil in a surprised tone.

“What is going to happen today?” asked the giant curiously.

“I thought everybody knew about it,” answered Kancil. “You must have been asleep when Nabi Sulaiman came into the forest to warn all the animals about the big flood. The big flood will carry everybody away to the see, unless he takes precaution to be safe.”

“Oh, I have not heard about this flood,” answered the giant, who believe every word Kancil said, “Tell me, what do you do to avoid being carried away?”

“Don’t you see what I am doing” said Kancil. “I bind myself to these roots, so that the water will not drag me away
Narraxt Fable - Kancil and the giant Story

“That’s a very good idea,” said the stupid giant. “Won’t you help me a little?”

“Why not? I am always ready to help somebody in need,” answered Kancil. “But these reeds are not strong enough to hold your heavy body. Why don’t you go into the forest and collect a big bunch of thick rattan? I shall wait for you here. But hurry, we don’t have much time as the flood will come soon after noon.”

Narrative Text Fable - Kancil and the giant Story

The stupid giant, afraid of losing his life, ran into the woods and soon came back with a big load

of rattan. Kancil told him to bind his own legs tightly together with the rattan, then sit with his back against a big tree so that Kancil could help him tie his body against the tree trunk. The giant did everything Kancil said. Soon he was sitting boud and helpless against the tree. To be completely safe, Kancil wound several more pieces of rattan round him so that the giant could hardly move.

Narrative Text Fable - Kancil and the giant Story
Then the clever little animal called out to his friends who were still busy catching fish some

distance away. Swine, Tiger and Elephant did not have much trouble killing their enemy.

Of course, Kancil did not tell them that he had tricked the giant, and the other three animals thought that he had fought with him. They all admired his enormous strength. They gave Kancil the biggest share of the fish, and after having finished their meal each of them went his own way.

WHY SNAILS CLIMB UP GRASS

Long long ago, Mr. Fish, Mr. Fly, Mr. Wasp and Mr. snail lived together in a small house. They divided the work among themselves. Mr. fish was the biggest and strongest. He was made the head of the house and his job was to find food. Mr. Fly, who could fly very fast, was made a messenger. Mr. Wasp was made a guard because of his painful sting. And Mr. Snail, who could only move slowly, looked after the house.

Fable for kids

Early one day, Mr. Fish went out to look for food. He swam slowly in a nearby river. Suddenly, he saw something moving in the water. It was a big frog. “What a lovely meal.” He thought. He quickly seized the frog in his mouth and started to swim home. But he did not know there was a hook inside the frog which was tied to a string. Someone pulled the string and soon Mr. Fish found himself inside a fisherman’s basket. The fisherman took him home and ate him.

Fable for kids

Of course, his friends did not know what had happened to him. They waited for him for several days. By this time, they all felt very hungry. Then Mr. Fly was sent out to look for Mr. Fish. Suddenly, he saw something moving in the water below. It was a fish whose lips moved in and out on the surface of the water.

Mr. Fly was angry. He thought the fish was laughing at him.

Fable for kids

“Don’t laugh me!” he cried, “I’m looking for my friend Mr. Fish, have you seen him?”

Fable for kids

But the fish still seemed to laugh at him. Mr. Fly flew lower and lower as he wanted to bite the fish. Suddenly, he felt very weak. He had not eaten any food for such a long time. His wings became heavier and heavier. “Plop!” he fell into the water and the fish swallowed him in a second.

Fable for kids

Mr. Wasp and Mr. Snail were still waiting for Mr. Fish and Mr. Fly to return. Although they were both hungry, Mr. Snail was not as hungry as Mr. Wasp. He could eat mud while Mr. wasp could only tighten his belt. At last, Mr. wasp could not stand it any longer.

Fable for kids

He flew out of the house to look for Mr. Fish and Mr. Fly. While he was flying, his hunger became worse. He tightened his belt again and again until finally he broke into two. That was the end of Mr. Wasp.

Fable for kids

Now only Mr. Snail was left. He left the house to look for his three friends. He was crying because he felt so lonely. Whenever he found some grass, he would climb up it to look around for his friends. Even today snails still cry, and whenever they see any grass they will climb up it and look around for their old friends.

WHY FROGS AND MOSQUITOES ARE ENEMIES STORY

A long time ago, there was an old crab who liked to sleep. But there were some frogs living nearby who made a loud noise. They kept him awake at night.

One night, the crab became very angry. “Don’t make so much noise!” he shouted.

“we can’t help it,” said the king of the frogs. “We’re talking about our friend the turtle.”

“What’s wrong with the turtle?”

“Don’t you know?” asked the king of the frogs. “he carries his house on his back.”

The crab then asked the turtle, “Why do you carry your house on your back?”

“Because I’m afraid the firefly will set light to it,” answered the turtle.

The crab then asked the firefly, “Why do you want to set fire to the poor turtle’s house?”

“Because the fire will keep away the mosquitoes,: said the firefly.

“And why do you want to give so much trouble to the firefly?” the crab asked the mosquito.

“I don’t,” replied the mosquito. At the same time, the mosquito bit the king of the frogs who had first spoken to the crab.

He jumped at least six inches in the air. “Ooch!” he cried. “Don’t bite me! It’s painful!”

But the mosquito dived at him again. He was very angry.

The king of the frogs stuck out his tongue and caught him. That was the end of the mosquito.

Since then, frogs and mosquitoes have been enemies. Even now, mosquitoes always chase frogs and bite them whenever they have the chance.

FABLE - THE KING’S KINKA STORY

The kinka is a small lizard with a red ring around its neck. This story is about a kinka that lived in the king’s garden.

One day the king took a walk through his garden. He looked at the birds and the flowers. He looked at the trees. Suddenly he noticed a kinkas do when they are frightened.

“Look at this,” said the king. “this lizard is very clever. He knows how to behave before the king. He is certainly the most polite animal I have ever seen.”

The king called his gardener. “I want you to feed this kinka. Give him some meat each day. Here is a bag of gold coins to pay for the meat.”

And so, each day the gardener used two gold coins to buy meat for the kinka. The kinka grew fat and lazy. He no longer ran through the garden.

One day the gardener was too busy to buy meat. Instead, he hung the two gold coins around the kinka’s neck. The kinka climbed to the top of the garden gate. Soon the king came along on his daily walk. He saw the kinka. This time the kinka did not nod its head because the coins around its neck were so heavy. It simply looked down on the king.

“What a proud kinka you are,” said the king. “You are too proud to be polite.”

After that the king refused to buy any special meat for the kinka. Like other animals, the kinka once again had to find its own food.

FABLE - THE CRANE AND THE CLAN

Chao was going to attack Yen. When the king of Yen heard about it, he sent for his senior officers.

“Can you tell me what to do?” he asked them.

Su Tai said, “I have a plan. Let me go and speak to the king of Chao,” The king of Yen agreed.

When Su Tai arrived at Chao, he saw the king. Your Majesty,” he said, “When I was coming here this morning, I passed the River Yi. There I saw a clam lying in the sun. Suddenly, a crane came along and tried to open its shell and eat it up. The clam caught the crane’s beak in it shell. The crane tried to free itself but was unable to do so.”

“ ‘You can try as hard as you like,’ the clam said, ‘but you cannot escape.”

“ ‘Unless you let me go,’ the crane answered, ‘you will not be able to return to the river.’”

“Neither of them wanted to give way. Not long afterwards, a fisherman passed by. He stopped and caught them both without any trouble.”

The king of Chao asked Su Tai, “What is the meaning of this story?”

“Your Majesty,” Su Tai replied, “if Chao and Yen fight each other they: will both become weak. there are many countries around us waiting to be the fisherman. I hope Your Majesty will think twice before doing anything.”

“Very well,” the King replied. Nothing more was heard after that of Chao attacking Yen.

THE ROCK AND THE WEASEL

Long ago a weasel came to a forest near Phakchong. He saw many mice there. Weasels like to eat mice, so the weasel decided to stay in the forest.

First, the weasel found a place to sleep in a hole beneath a bush. The next day he walked to the top of a small hill. On the hilltop was a rock. The weasel decided to sit on the rock.

“Who’s there? Asked the rock. “Whoever you are, don’t sit on me.”

“I’ll sit here as long as I like,” said the weasel. “After all, you’re not going anywhere.”

The rock sighed, for there was nothing he could do. The weasel sat back on his hind legs. He raised his forelegs in front of him, looked at the sky, and pretended to pray. At sunset the weasel walked down the hill to his home. He did the same thing the next day, and the next day, and the next day after that.

Soon the mice became curious about the weasel. They watched him for several days. Finally they chose one brave mouse to ask the weasel what he was doing. The brave mouse climbed the hill.

“What are you doing?” asked the mouse.

“I’m praying,” replied the weasel.

The mouse ran back down the hill. He told the other mice that the weasel was praying. The mice decided that the weasel was a very great animal. They also thought he must be a very good animal. That evening they waited for him at the bottom of the hill.

“We want to pay our respects’ to you,” said their leader.

The mice walked around the weasel three times. Then they went home. They did not notice that

ONE MOUSE WAS MISSING.

Each night after that the mice waited for the weasel. Each night he came down from the hilltop. Each night the mice walked around him three times, and each night the weasel ate one mouse.

This went on for several months. Finally the leader of the mice noticed something. The forest had fewer mice than before. He called a meeting of all the mice.

“Something is wrong,” said the leader. “Mice are disappearing, I thing the weasel is eating our friends and relations.

The mice decided to look at the weasel’s home. They went the next day, while the weasel was on the rock. In the weasel’s hole they found a large pile of mouse bone. The mice ran back to the leader who told them what to do.

That evening most of the mice waited at the bottom of the hill. Some of the stronger mice walked up behind the hill. At the sundown the weasel stepped off the rock, and it began to move. The rock rolled down the hill, but the weasel didn’t hear it coming. He was thinking about his dinner.

The rock landed on the weasel.

“Get off,” cried the weasel. “Don’t sit on me.”

“I’ll sit here as long as I like,” said the rock. “After all, I’m not going anywhere.”

KANCIL AND CROCODILE STORY

Kancil, the small but clever mousedeer, had many enemies in the forest. Fortunately, he was quick-witted, so that every time his life was threatened, he managed to escape.

One of his greatest enemies was Crocodile, who lived in the river that bordered the forest. Many times Crocodile had tried to capture the small mousedeer. Crocodile was big, but he was not very clever. Kancil was able to trick him every time.

One day it was very hot. There was no wind at all to refresh the thirsty plants and trees of the forest. It was in the middle of the dry season. For many weeks no rain had fallen so that the little creeks where the small animals used to drink had dried up. Kancil was walking alone in the forest; he was very thirsty. He had walked a long way; looking for a brook where he could quench his thirst, but he had found only dry mud in the once gay rippling brooks. It was very quiet in the forest. All the animals seemed to sleep. Even the birds did not sing in the trees. Kancil finally decided to go to the river that bordered the forest. Usually he avoided going there as he knew that Crocodile was always on the look-out for him, waiting for an opportunity to catch him.

When he arrived at the river. Kancil looked cautiously around him. There was no body to be seen. The clear river water mirrored blidingly the rays of the sun. step by step Kancil approached the water. His sharp eyes looked right and left; his pointed ears strained to catch the slightest sound. But no danger seemed to threaten him this time. Relieved, he bent his head to enjoy the cool water. Suddenly, his glance fell upon an object that was floating not far away from where he stood. It was a blackish thing. It looked like a fallen branch ………. Or, like the back of crocodile! Kancil jumped back, surprised and thoughtful. But he was also very thirsty. How could he possibly know whether the thing there in the river was really a log or a crocodile? Then he smiled a little as he hit upon an idea. In a clear voice he shouted, “ Hey! There, you who are in the river. If you are crocodile, don’t answer me, but if you are only a long of wood, tell me your name!”

Now it was really Crocodile who was floating in the river. He had seen Kancil approaching and he was waiting for him to bend his head to drink. At the very moment when Kancil did not look. Crocodile would catch him. Without thinking any further, Crocodile answered Kancil in his gruff voice, “Don’t be afraid, I’m only a harmless log!”

Immediately, Kancil ran away as fast as his leg could carry him, while shouting over his shoulder, “O, stupid Crocodile, have you ever heard a log of wood talk?”

A fortnight later, however, Kancil forgot this incident. The dry season was not over yet and it seemed to be hotter than ever. Kancil remembered the cool, fresh river water. How wonderful it would be take a bath in it! He decidec to try his luck once again. This time there was nothing suspicious to be seen, so Kancil went to the water and drank to his heart’s content. It was very quite, and also very hot. Without thinking any further Kancil went down into the river and began to splash himself. In his delight he forgot all about danger. He pick up a dry twig that was floating by and began to beat the water with it. He made so much noise that he woke up….. who else, but old crocodile who was sleeping in the neighbourhood.

“Well, well, this seem to be my lucky day,” thought Crocodile. In a flash he shot out of his hiding place and all of a sudden. Kancil felt sharp teeth biting into one of his legs. It hurt him very much, but though he was shocked and frightened Kancil did not lose his wits. Without hesitation he dipped the dry twig into the water and in a mocking tone he said, “stupid old log of wood, do you really think you have got me? It is only a twig you have in your mouth, not my leg. Here is my leg’ catch it if you can!”

Kancil moved the twig rapidly to and in front of Crocodile’s eyes. Crocodile could not see very well in the water and above all, he really was blockhead! He believed the clever tal of the little mousedeer, released kancil’s leg and snapped his jaw on the twig. Of course, kancil did not wait one second to jump out of the water and run to the safety of the woods. Though his leg was very sore, he laughed heartily. Once more he had tricked Crocodile.

THE TIGER, THE MONKEY, AND THE MOUSEDEER STORY

There was a tiger whose greatest friend was a monkey. One day, the tiger went away fo a holyday and told the monkey to look after his cave. A mousedeer, his wife and family came to live in the cave.

“you can’t do that,” said the monkey. “This cave belongs to the King of the Forest.”

“Oh, does it?” the mousedeer replied. “My father lived here long before the tiger come. Anyway, I’m not afraid of the tiger, he’s only a paper tiger to me.”

He told his wife what to do when the tiger returned. “You must make our babies cry. I’ll then ask you why they’re crying. You must say that they want to eat tiger meat,”

A few days later, the monkey heard that the tiger was coming home. He ran to meet him. “The mousedeer’s living in your cave.” He told him. “He says he’s not afraid of you and that you’re only a paper tiger.”

“Is that so?” growled the tiger. “I’ll soon teach hi a lesson.”

The tiger did not believe that the small mousedeer could be so brave. He crept up to the cave.

The mousedeer’s children were crying loudly, “Keep quiet,” said Mrs. Mousedeer ”Your father will soon get some tiger meat for you.”

Then tiger heard this and ran back to the monkey.

“I thought that mousedeer only ate grass and vegetables,” he said. “But Mrs. Mousedeer said that her husband would soon get some tiger meat to feed their children. Perhaps the mousedeer has changed?”

“Don’t worry,” the monkey replied, “They’re only saying that to frightened you. The mousedeer is not big and strong. He can’t fight.”

The next day, the tiger went to the cave again. The mousedeer’s children were again crying.

“Tell them to kept quiet,” said the mousedeer to his wife. “We shall certainly get some tiger meat today. The monkey has promised to send the tiger here.”

When the tiger heard this, he became very angry with his friend, he quickly run after the monkey and killed him.

The tiger did not go back to the cave, and the mousedeer and his family lived there happily ever after.

HOW THE MOUSEDEER TRICKED THE CROCODILE

A mousedeer was walking along the bank of river. He could see several crocodiles lying in the mud a t the side of the river.

“Hey, friends!” he called out. “You are really very big and strong! You could easily conguer any country if you want to.”

“Of course, Mr. mousedeer,” answered the crocodiles. “Even men are afraid of us. Look how well are armed.” They showed the mousedeer their sharp claws and

teeth, and waved their tails slowly backwards and forwards. “With one blow we can knock a man down.

”Everything you say is true,” said the mousedeer, “but I would like to know how many of you there are. Can you please form a line across the river so that I can count you?”

The crocodiles did as they were told. They formed a line from one side of the river to the other.

The mousedeer jumped down lightly on the back of the nearest crocodile. “One, two, three,” he counted as he walked across the river on their backs.

When he reached the other side, he jumped quickly on to the bank. “Thank you very much gentlemen,” he called out. “I didn’t want to get my feet wet crossing the river.”

The crocodiles roared in anger.

“Don’t forget, mousedeer.” They shouted “we can live on land as well as in the water. On day we shall catch you and teach you a good lesson.”

“Ha, ha, ha!” laughed the mousedeer. He run away into the forest. But he did not go near the river again after that. Whenever he wanted to drink, he look for water elsewhere.

One day it was very hot. The mousedeer was very thirsty. He could not find water anywhere. He had to return to the river.

“O river,” he cried, “Are there any crocodiles there?” there was no reply. He repeated the question several times but received no answer. “Oh well,” he said “there must be crocodiles there otherwise the river would say something.”

“There are no crocodiles here,” came the answer from the crocodiles, who were grinding their teeth in anger.

“Thanks for letting me know that you’re there,” the mousedeer said. “I don’t think I want to go near the river today.”

The crocodiles rushed up the river bank towards the mousedeer but he ran swiftly into the jungle. “The mousedeer thinks he’s very clever,” said the crocodiles. “Let’s wait for him near those papaya trees over there. He always goes there to eat.”

They waited for several hours. Feeling very hot and uncomfortable under the sun.

Suddenly the mousedeer arrived. “O papaya tree, are there any crocodiles there?”

As there was no reply, he repeated the question several times. There was silence. “Ho, ho papaya tree! I’m sure there are crocodiles there. They must have told you to keep quiet.”

“No we didn’t,” shouted the crocodiles.

The mousedeer immediately ran away but the crocodiles were too slow to catch him.

Before long, the mousedeer felt thirsty and hungry. He went back to the river. While he was searching for food and drink, a crocodile seized him by the leg.

“Hey what are you doing?” asked mousedeer. “That’s not my leg. It’s a branch of a tree.”

The crocodile let go of his leg to take another bite.

The mousedeer leapt away as fast as he could. When he reached as safe distance, he stopped and called out. “My friends, I know you are still waiting for me in the river, if you want to kill me, why don’t we have a fair fight? I shall call all of my friends and you can call yours. In one week’s time. We’ll meet on the river bank and fight it out.”

The crocodiles agreed that it would be the best way to settle the matter once and for all.

Every night after that, while the crocodiles were asleep, the mousedeer made as many footprints as he could in the soft mud at the side of the river.

On the seventh day, a large army of crocodiles appeared. But they could find no sign of the mousedeer and his army. All they could see were hundreds of footprints in the mud.

“What a pity!” they exclaimed. “It’s our fault, we are too late. The mousedeer’s army could not wait for us.”

The mousedeer called out to them from the other side of the river. “Do you think I am so stupid? You can’t kill me so easily!”

Once again, the mousedeer had tricked the crocodiles, and they had to admit defeat.

A MOUSEDEER, SNAKE AND TIGER

One day while a mousedeer was walking in the forest, he saw a big, black snake sleeping under the tree. When he saw the snake, the mousedeer was frightened. When he wanted to run away from the snake, he suddenly fell on top of a tiger which was sleeping not far from the snake. The tiger woke up and took hold of the mousedeer. He told the mousedeer that he was going to eat him for lunch. “please don’t eat me now,” said the mousedeer. “I have something important to do.”

“look,” said the mousedeer. “that is the king’s belt. He asked me to stay here and watch it while he was away in the forest.” The tiger looked at the snake and said, “that is a beautiful belt. I need a belt like that. Can I wear it?” asked the mousedeer.

“Oh all right,” said the mousedeer. So he picked up the snake and winded it around the tiger. The snake twisted itself tighter and tighter until the tiger couldn’t breathe. The tiger asked The mousedeer to help him. But the mousedeer turned and ran away into the forest.

HOW THE MOUSEDEER CHEATED THE TIGER

Long, long ago a mousedeer and a tiger were neighbours. The tiger was very fierce. He liked to boast how strong he was. All the animals in the forest were afraid of him. He ate at least one of them for dinner every day.

The mousedeer decided to teach him a good lesson.

“Why don’t you allow me to bring you your dinner every day? You will then not have to hunt to food,” he asked the tiger.

The tiger agreed.

The next day the mousedeer took a rat with him to see the tiger.

“I’m afraid I could not bring you a bigger animal.” The mousedeer explained. “There’s an animal who looks exactly like you blocking the road. He too has a rat sitting on his head. He said to all animals, “Is there anyone in the world who can fight with me? If so, let him come and try. If there’s no one, then I’m the king of the forest.”

“Ho!” said the tiger. “Didn’t you tell him about me?”

“Yes I did,” replied the mousedeer. “But it would have been better if I hadn’t. when I told him how strong you were, he laughed and said rude things. He even said he would not accept you as his servant.”

The tiger became very angry. “Where is he? Where is he? He shouted.

So the mousedeer asked the rat to sit on the tiger’s head while he sat on the tiger’s back. He pointed to a river not far away. “He’s there.” He said.

The tiger ran to the river. He looked down at the water. Yes, there was another tiger. As the mousedeer said, he was just like himself. There was also a rat sitting on his head.

He shouted loudly his enemy shouted loudly too.

The tiger became even more angry. He showed his teeth. So did the other tiger.

The tiger jumped into the river to fight with his enemy. He drowned immediately.