ion's tail a sharp poke.

'What is pricking me so?' asked Big Lion.

'Oh, just a little branch sticking out. I am going to break it,'
answered the little hare; but of course he had done it on purpose, as he
wanted to fix Big Lion's tail so firmly to the hut that he would not
be able to move. In a little while he gave another prick, and Big Lion
called again, 'What is pricking me so?'

This time the little hare said to himself, 'He will find out what I am
at. I must try some other plan. 'So he called out, 'Grandfather, you had
better put your tongue here, so that the branches shall not touch you.'
Big Lion did as he was bid, and the little hare tied it tightly to the
stakes of the wall. Then he went outside and shouted, 'Grandfather, you
can come down now,' and Big Lion tried, but he could not move an inch.

Then the little hare began quietly to eat Big Lion's dinner right before
his eyes, and paying no attention at all to his growls of rage. When
he had quite done he climbed up on the hut, and, blowing his flute, he
chanted 'Pii, pii, fall rain and hail,' and directly the sky was full of
clouds, the thunder roared, and huge hailstones whitened the roof of
the hut. The little hare, who had taken refuge within, called out again,
'Big Lion, be quick and come down and dine with me.' But there was no
answer, not even a growl, for the hailstones had killed Big Lion.

The little hare enjoyed himself vastly for some time, living comfortably
in the hut, with plenty of food to eat and no trouble at all in getting
it. But one day a great wind arose, and flung down the Big Lion's
half-dried skin from the roof of the hut. The little hare bounded with
terror at the noise, for he thought Big Lion must have come to life
again; but on discovering what had happened he set about cleaning
the skin, and propped the mouth open with sticks so that he could get
through. So, dressed in Big Lion's skin, the little hare started on his
travels.

The first visit he paid was to the hyaenas, who trembled at the sight
of him, and whispered to each other, 'How shall we escape from this
terrible beast?' Meanwhile the little hare did not trouble himself
about them, but just asked where the king of the hyaenas lived, and
made himself quite at home there. Every morning each hyaena thought to
himself, 'To-day he is certain to eat me;' but several days went by,
and they were all still alive. At length, one evening, the little hare,
looking round for so