said: "I have learned a
science by which I can take the skeleton of any animal whatever and put
the proper kind of flesh on it."

The second said: "I have learned a science by which I can put on the
flesh-covered skeleton the proper hair and skin."

The third said: "My science is this. When the skin and the flesh and
the hair are there, I can put in the eyes and the other organs of
sense."

The fourth said: "When the organs are there, I can give the creature
the breath of life."

So all four went into the forest to find a skeleton and test their
various sciences. As fate would have it, they found the skeleton of a
lion there. And they took that, not knowing the difference.

The first fitted out the skeleton with appropriate flesh. The second
added the skin and hair. The third provided all the organs. The fourth
gave life to the thing, and it was a lion. The lion arose with terrible
massive mane, dreadful teeth in his mouth, and curving claws in his
paws. He arose and killed his four creators, then ran into the forest.

Thus the Brahman youths all perished because they did wrong to make a
lion. Who could expect a good result from creating a bad-tempered
creature? Thus, if fate opposed, even a virtue that has been painfully
acquired does not profit, but rather injures. But the tree of manhood,
with the water of intelligence poured into its watering-trench of
conduct about the vigorous root of fate, generally bears good fruit.

When the goblin had told this story, he asked the king who was walking
through the night: "O King, remember the curse I mentioned, and tell me
which of them was most to blame for creating the lion?"

And the king reflected in silence: "He wants to escape again. Very
well. I will catch him again." So he said: "The one who gave life to
the lion, is the sinner. The others did not know what kind of an animal
it was, and just showed their skill in creating flesh and skin and hair
and organs. They were not to blame because they were ignorant. But the
one who saw that it was a lion and gave it life just to exhibit his
skill, he was guilty of the murder of Brahmans."

Then the goblin went home. And the king followed him again, and came to
the sissoo tree.

TWENTY-FIRST GOBLIN

_The Old Hermit who exchanged his Body for that of the Dead Boy. Why did
he weep and dance?_

Then the king went back to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on his
shoulder in spite of all its writhings, and set out i