th rage.

"Come down this instant," she cried to Monkey, hoping he would obey her.

"Nay, Leopardess. It has been told me, and the forest is full of the
report, that your cruelty has driven from you Jackal and Dog, and that
they will never serve you again. Cruel people never can reckon upon
friends. I and my tribe, so long servants to you, will henceforth be
strangers to you. Fare you well."

A great rustling was heard in the trees overhead as Monkey and his tribe
migrated away from the district of the cruel Leopardess who, devoured
with rage, was obliged to depart with not one of her vengeful thoughts
gratified.

As she was returning to her den, Leopardess bethought herself of the
Oracle, who was her friend, who would no doubt, at her solicitations,
reveal the hiding-places of Jackal and Dog. She directed her steps to
the cave of the Oracle, who was a nondescript practising witchcraft in
the wildest part of the district.

To this curious being she related the story of the murder of her cub by
Jackal and Dog, and requested him to inform her by what means she could
discover the criminals and wreak her vengeance on them.

The Oracle replied, "Jackal has gone into the wild wood, and he and his
family henceforward will always remain there, to degenerate in time into
a suspicious and cowardly race. Dog has fled to take his shelter in the
home of man, to be his companion and friend, and to serve man against
you and your kind. But lest you accuse me of ill-will to you, I will
tell you how you may catch Dog if you are clever and do not allow your
temper to exceed your caution. Not far off is a village belonging to
one of the human tribes, near which there is a large ant-hill, where
moths every morning flit about in the sunshine of the early day. About
the same time Dog leaves the village to sport and gambol and chase the
moths. If you can find a lurking-place not far from it, where you can
lie silently in wait, Dog may be caught by you in an unwary moment while
at his daily play. I have spoken."

Leopardess thanked the Oracle and retired brooding over its advice.
That night the moon was very clear and shining bright, and she stole out
of her den, and proceeding due west as she was directed, in a few hours
she discovered the village and the ant-hill described by the Oracle.
Near the mound she also found a thick dense bush, which was made still
more dense by the tall wild grass surrounding it. In the depths of