ut as soon as he collected his wits he
crouched as if to spring upon the Donkey and make a meal of him.

The Self-respecting Donkey did not run. He moved with a slow, firm, and
kingly step toward the Tiger. Then he dropped his head again, in such a
way that his ears looked like great proclamations of wisdom and power.

"Br-a-a-a!"

His voice was truly terrible. The Tiger again quailed.

"Oh, Beast of the Voice of the Thunder-winds," said he, "thou canst
dispute with me and the Lion the kingship among animals!"

The Donkey brayed again in a more terrible voice than before. "If you
will accompany me into the wood," said he, "thou shalt see all animals
flee from us."

The Tiger felt complimented by an association with the animal who had
gained his voice from the thunder, and shortly they entered the wood.

The animals all fled when they saw them coming--not from the Donkey,
but from the Tiger. Even the Raven dared not speak, and the Lion slunk
back among the rocks; because a Tiger and a Donkey, together, might
more than equal his terrifying roar.

"See," said the Donkey, "all nature flees before us. Now walk behind
me, and I will show you the secret of my power."

The Tiger stepped behind; and the Donkey very quickly, in a pretty
short time, showed him the secret of his power. He kicked the poor
foolish Tiger in the head, breaking his nose, and stunning him. Then
leaving him in the path for dead, he made good his escape.

"Any one can be great," said he, "if he knows how to use his power!"
He was a philosopher.

When the poor Tiger came to his senses he rubbed his nose with his paw,
and began to reflect on the lesson that he should learn from his
association with a Donkey.

He reflected long and well--and never said anything about it to anyone.

"In my country," added little Sky-High, "we think that when one allows
himself to get kicked by a donkey a long silence befits him--he can best
show his wisdom in that way. Do you not think so, O Mandarin Americans?"

The "Mandarin Americans" quite agreed with the conclusion drawn by
Sky-High.

It was about this time that little Lucy began to wonder if Sky-High were
not a wang indeed. No common young Chinese could possess so many kinds
of wisdom. He was able to read to her the labels on tea-chests, and to
explain the odd figures on the many fans that decorated her playroom.

"How do you know so much, Sky-