“The moon was on high and there were millions of stars. Yet, though these lighted the side of the rock, there was not a trace of a hole to be seen. Still, it was not yet midnight; so, with eyes fixed on the cliff, the strange gathering awaited some sign. And, on the very minute, it came! “Yes, something was about to take place. First, every ear heard a deep, muffled sound—like a drum that is played far away. Next, a wee stream of sand began to trickle down the face of the rock; then a rattling of pebbles and still larger stones; while, high up, near the top of the cliff, there gradually appeared an opening as round and as big as Elephant’s foot. “Not an animal dared breathe! Every eye was alert—every muscle grew tense. Then, from the very heart of the rock and out through the hole, came a voice that was almost like thunder. “‘Who wants to hear a story?’ it roared. “But not one of the watchers made answer. “‘Who wants to hear a story?’ roared the voice once again. “Then Great Spot, the leopard, took heart. “‘We do,’ he replied. “‘We, also,’ called Black Mane, while soon, from all sides, came voices crying the same. “‘Then harken, one and all,’ roared the voice from the rock. “Now, what the story was about need not concern us just now,” continued the Lady. “But there was a story—and oh, such an interesting one. At times the listeners nudged one another with delight, while the younger animals found themselves exchanging knowing glances with those they had never so much as noticed before. But, as is often the contrary way of those who tell tales, the voice that told this one suddenly stopped at the most exciting point in the story. “‘Tell us the rest,’ rose the cry from the plain. “‘To-morrow, at midnight,’ roared the face of the cliff. ‘Come then, if you’d hear the end of the tale.’ “Now you may be sure that the following night found all at the foot of the great rock again. They were gathered together a full hour before midnight and some spent the time retelling the story. But not all told it alike, and soon—of all unheard-of things—animals who had never spoken to one another in all their days found themselves appealing to know if this or that were not the way the tale had been told. Even as they debated, there came a roar from the cliff and the unseen one went on with the story. In time it was finished and the great voice was stilled. “‘Tell us another,’ cried all the animals from their place on the plain.