Page:Where Animals Talk (West African folk lore tales).djvu/31

 as you are in such a trouble, I will share with you of mine." So he called to his women, "Give Njĕgâ a few pieces of meat." Leopard took the meat, and Rat and his people went away to their own town.

But Leopard was not satisfied. He was sure that Rat had played him a trick. He had forgiven Rat his stealing at the camp; but, for this last trick, he meditated revenge.

It is the proper and most friendly mode, that relatives and friends should hasten to visit their sick, on the very first information, without waiting to be invited or summoned.

Leopard told his head-wife, "Ntori has taken our meat and deceived me in all these ways; I will kill him and eat him."

So he pretended to be sick.

The next day, news was sent to Rat that his Uncle Leopard was sick of a fever.

The following day, word was again sent that he was very sick indeed, and that he wanted a parting word with Rat. Rat sent back a message, "I hear; and I will come tomorrow."

Rat suspected some evil, and did not believe that Leopard was sick. So he went to the forest, and collected all kinds of insects that sting, and tied them into five little bundles.

Next day, word came to him, "Njĕgâ is dead." Rat went quickly, taking the five little bundles with him.