. Dog loped after it as fast as his limbs could
carry him, crying out:

"Oh, Jackal, Jackal, good Jackal! Shut the door. Hurry up. Shut the
door, good Jackal."

Again Jackal heard his friend's cry, and sprang up to close the door,
and the instant he had done so the bone struck it with dreadful force.

Turning to the crestfallen and panting Dog, Jackal said sternly: "You
are a nice fellow, you are. I well see the end of you. Now listen,
this is the last time that I shall help you, my friend. The next time
you take a bone you will bear the consequences, so look out."

"Come, Jackal, now don't say any more; I will not look at a bone again,
I make you a solemn promise."

"Keep to that, and you will be safe," replied Jackal.

Poor Dog, however, was by no means able to adhere to his promise, for a
few days afterwards Leopardess brought a fat young eland, and he found
an opportunity to abstract a fine marrowbone before serving his generous
mistress. Late in the afternoon, after dinner and siesta, Leopardess,
before going out, repeated her usual charge to Jackal, and while the
faithful servant retired to his nursing duties, greedy Dog sought his
bone, and stole out to the forest with it. This time he went further
than usual. Jackal meanwhile finding the cubs indisposed for sleep, led
them out to the door of the den, where they frisked and gambolled about
with all the liveliness of cubhood. Jackal was sitting at a distance
from the door when he heard the cries of Dog. "Oh, Jackal, Jackal, good
Jackal! Shut the door quickly. Look out for the bone. It is coming.
Shut the door quickly."

"Ha, ha! friend Dog! At it again, eh?" said the Jackal. "It is too
late, too late, Doggie dear, the cubs are in the doorway." He looked
up, however, saw the bone coming with terrific speed; he heard it whiz
as it flew close over his head, and almost immediately after it struck
one of the cubs, killing it instantly.

Jackal appeared to quickly realise the consequences of Dog's act, and
his own carelessness, and feeling that henceforth Leopardess's den would
be no home for him, he resolved to escape. Just then Dog came up, and
when he saw the dead cub he set up a piteous howl.

"Ay," said Jackal. "You fool, you begin to see what your greed has
brought upon us all. Howl on, my friend, but you will howl differently
when Mistress Leopardess discovers her dead cub. Bethink yourself how
all this will end. Our mighty mistre