The talking Cave

Once upon a time, there lived a lion in a forest. As he had not eaten for a few days, the lion was very hungry.

The lion searched everywhere for food but he could not find anything to eat. When his tired legs could not carry him any further, he decided to rest a while. A little later, when he looked up, he saw that he was at the mouth of a cave. Very carefully, the lion peeped in. The cave was empty.

"Aha" he thought, "this cave must be the home of some animal. It is such a good shelter  against the dangers of the night! If I hide here, I can eat whatever creatures come here tonight!"

The lion was very pleased with his plan. He hid in the cave and waited.

The cave happened to be the home of a clever Jackal. The Jackal spent his days wandering about the forest in search of food.

When the Jackal got home that evening, something told him that all was not right. It was far too silent and calm. Where were the birds and insect tonight? They were usually so noisy at this time!

"Hmm," thought the alert Jackal. "I wonder what is going on?"

Suddenly, he had a brilliant idea. "O my good cave!" he shouted.

"You are normally so talkative. Why are you quiet today? Did I do something wrong? Answer me!"

From inside the cave, the lion could hear the Jackal shouting.

"Oh, ho! It is because I'm here that the cave is silent tonight," thought the foolish lion. He wondered what to do.

Outside, the Jackal was still shouting. "O cave, have you forgotten our agreement?" We are supposed to exchange greetings when I come back home."

The lion was in a fix. "May be I should imitate the cave and talk to the Jackal," he thought. "Otherwise he will know something is wrong!"

"Welcome, friend," roared the lion , "come in, come in!"

The foolish lion's mighty roar shook the entire forest. All the birds flew out of their nest in alarm. All the insects buzzed in fright.

"Good Lord!" thought the Jackal. "This is very first time that I have heard the cave talk. It sounds just like a lion!"

And that was how the smart Jackal detected a stranger in his cave. He had cleverly managed to save his own life! The jackal quickly slunk away before the lion came out of the cave and pounced on him.

As for the foolish lion , he had nothing to eat that night either, and went to bed hungrier than ever.