of you. I am so bruised
and sore all over! Ah! my bones! They have half killed me," moaned
Dog.

"Poor fellow! Well, lie still and rest. There is nothing like rest for
a bruised body. I will get that white goat the next time I try."

After waiting two or three days, Leopard departed to obtain the white
goat. Dog sneaked after him, and served his friend in the same way,
bringing the white goat himself, and bragging how he had succeeded,
while pretending to pity Leopard for his bad luck.

Three times running Dog served him with the same trick, and Leopard was
much mortified at his own failure. Then Leopard thought of the Muzimu--
the oracle who knows all things, and gives such good advice to those who
are unfortunate and ask for his help--and he resolved, in his distress,
to seek him.

In the heart of the tall, dark woods, where the bush is most dense,
where vines clamber over the clumps, and fold themselves round and round
the trees, and hang in long coils by the side of a cool stream, the
Muzimu resided.

Leopard softly drew near the sacred place and cried, "Oh! Muzimu, have
pity on me. I am almost dying with hunger. I used to be bold and
strong, and successful, but now, of late, though I catch my prey as of
old, something always happens to scare me away, and I lose the meat I
have taken. Help me, O Muzimu, and tell how my good luck may return."

After a while the Muzimu answered in a deep voice, "Leopard, your
ill-luck comes from your own folly. You know how to catch prey, but it
takes a dog to know how to eat it. Go; watch your friend, and your
ill-luck will fly away."

Leopard was never very wise, though he had good eyes, and was swift and
brave, and he thought over what the Muzimu said. He could not
understand in what way his good luck would return by watching his
friend, but he resolved to follow the advice of the Muzimu.

The next night Leopard gave out that he was going to seize a
dun-coloured goat, and Dog said, "Ah! that is what I mean to do too. I
think a dun-coated goat so sweet."

The village was reached, a low place was found in the palings, and
Leopard, as quick as you could wink, was over and among the goats. With
one stroke he struck his victim dead, threw it over his shoulders, and,
with a flying leap, carried it outside. Dog, who was hiding near the
place, in a strange voice cried, "Ah! here he is--the thief of a
Leopard! Kill him! kill him!"

Leopard turning his head ar