THE JATAKAS. Tales of India

Page 62

JATAKA TALES This stopped them, for they knew the voice of the of Beasts, and they feared him. "Why are you running so fast ?" asked the Lion.

King

"Oh, King Lion," they answered him, "the earth all

is

breaking up!"

"Who saw it breaking up?"

asked the Lion.

"Ask

"I did n't," said the Elephant. told

me

about

the

Fox

he

it."

"I did n't," said the Fox.

"The Rabbits

One see

it,

At

me

about

it,"

said the Deer.

after another of the Rabbits said

but another Rabbit told last the

said the earth

"Is

told

it

Lion came

was

all

me

to the

about Rabbit

:

"I did not

it."

who had

first

breaking up.

true that the earth

is all

breaking up?" the

Lion asked. "Yes, O Lion, it is," said the Rabbit. "I was asleep under a palm-tree. I woke up and thought, 'What would become of me if the earth should all break up ?'

At

moment, I heard the sound of the earth breaking up, and I ran away." "Then," said the Lion, "you and I will go back to the place where the earth began to break up, and see what is the matter." that very

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