Page:Stories and story-telling (1915).djvu/186

 Then the cat walked along the road till he met a man beating a donkey to make him go. "Cat," cried the man, "get out of the way, or my donkey may kick you."

"Man," said the cat, "I've eaten a basketful of cakes, I've eaten my friend the parrot, I've eaten an old woman, and shall I blush to eat a miserable donkey driver? No, surely not." And—gullup, gulloo—down went the man and his donkey.

After this the cat walked on again till he met a wedding procession. At the head came the king with his newly made bride, and behind him marched a company of soldiers, and behind them tramped ever and ever so many elephants, two and two, and two and two, and two and two, and a great many more.

"Cat," said the happy king, kindly, "turn out of the road a little, or my elephants may trample you to death."

"King," said the cat, "you don't know me. I've eaten a basketful of cakes, I've eaten my friend the parrot, I've eaten a miserable man and his donkey, and shall I blush to eat a beggarly king? No, surely not." And—gullup, gulloo—down went the king, down went the queen, down went the soldiers, bayonets and all, down went the elephants, two and two and two and two.

After this the cat walked on more slowly, for he was somewhat heavy. On the way two landcrabs