Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales
John Stuart Mill · en
Leopard went away in wrath; and, finding Frog at a near-by brook, he
said to him, "Rângi! you just watch. I do not want Ntori to escape
from that hole. Watch, while I go to get some fire, with which to
burn him out."
Shortly after Leopard had gone, Rat began to creep out. Seeing Frog
standing on guard, he said, "Good Rângi! let me pass!" But Frog
replied, "No! I have my orders to watch you here." Then said Rat,
"If that is so, why don't you come close here, and attend to your
duty? You are too far from this hole. If a person is set to watch,
he should be near the thing he watches. As far as you are there, I
could, if I tried, get out without your catching me. So, it is better
for you to have a good look down this hole." While Rat was saying
all this, he was near the mouth of the hole; but, as Frog approached,
he receded to the bottom, and went to the back end of the cave, where
cayenne pepper bushes were growing. Frog came to the edge of the hole,
and looking down, saw nothing.
During this while, Rat was plucking pepper-pods and chewing them,
retaining them in his mouth. Returning again to the entrance, he
saw Frog still watching, and he said, "Rângi! get out of my way,
and let me pass. Let me out!" Frog replied, "I will not!" Rat asked,
"Do you know me?" Frog replied, "Not very well." Then Rat said, "Come
near! Open your eyes wide, and take a good look at me!" As soon as
Frog's eyes were wide open, Rat blew the pepper into them. This so
startled Frog that he fell back, his eyes blinded by the smarting;
and Rat jumped out and ran away. Frog, heedless of his prisoner,
was jumping about in pain; and, abandoning his post, crawled to the
water of the brook not far away, and tumbled into it to wash his eyes.
Now, by this time, Leopard had returned with his fire. Seeing no
one on guard, he called out, "Rângi! Rângi! where are you?" Frog, at
the bottom of the brook, was still in agony with his eyes. He knew
well that Rat was gone; but, in his vexation, he answered, "Ntori
is there! Put in your fire!" So, Leopard put fire into the hole,
and made a great smoke, but there was no sign of Rat.
After a long time, Leopard became tired at not finding Rat, and
called out, "Rângi! Rângi! Where indeed is Ntori? He has not come
out by this fire!" Then Frog answered, "Ntori is not there. I just
lied to you in vexation of the pain I got through serving you." So,
Leopard was very angry and said to Frog, "You have deceived and fooled
me! I will just come and eat you up!" Said Frog, "Good! come on!"