ye propose. Brother Rhinoceros, thou art the next to me in bigness
and strength, speak."

"Well, brother Elephant and friends, the words we have heard are true.
The son of man is, of all creatures that I know, the most wanton in
offence against us of the four-footed tribes. Not a day passes but I
hear moan and plaint from some sufferer. Not long ago, a cousin,
walking quietly through a wood not far from here, caught his foot in a
vine that lay across the path, and almost immediately after a hardened
and pointed stake was precipitated from above deep into the jointure of
the neck with the spine, which killed him instantly, of course. I have,
by wonderful good luck, escaped thus far, but it may be my fate to fall
to-morrow through some foul practice. Wherefore, I think it were well
that we set about doing what we decide to do instanter. I propose that
early in the morning, before a glint of sunshine be seen, we set upon
the piratical nest and utterly destroy it. I am so loaded with hate of
them, that I could dispose of the half of the rascals myself, before
they could recover their wits. But if any of ye here has a better plan,
I lend my ears to the hearing of it, my heart to the approval of it, and
my strength and fury to the doing of it, without further speech. I have
spoken."

"Now, friend Lion," said the Elephant, turning solemnly to him, "it is
thy turn, and say freely what thy wit conceives in this matter. Thy
courage we all know, and none of us doubt that thy mind is equal to it."

"Truly, friend Elephant, and ye others, the business we are met to
consider is pressing. The sons of men are crafty, and their guile is
beyond measure. The four-footed tribes have much cause of grievance
against me and mine. However, none can accuse me or my family of having
taken undue advantage of those whom we meditate striking. We always
give loud warning, as you all know, and afterwards strike; for if we did
not do this, few of even the strongest would escape our vengeance. But
these pestilent, two-footed beasts--by net, trap, falling stake, pit, or
noose--are unceasing in their secret malice, and there is no safety in
the plain, bush, or rock-fastness against their wiles. For what I and
my kin do there is good motive--that of providing meat for ourselves and
young; but it passes my wit to discover what the son of man can want
with all he destroys. Even our bones--as, for instance, thy long teeth,
O Elephant--they