Page:Where Animals Talk (West African folk lore tales).djvu/99

 thinking this was you. But, as the matter is thus, say no more about it. Let us cut up and eat this woman. Come, cut up!" But, Gazelle said, "I? When the town's-people hear the chopping, then won't they say, 'What animal has Ihêli killed in his brother-in-law's town, that he is cutting it up at night?' Yourself, cut her to pieces."

So, Leopard said, "Well, leave the work on the body of the woman to me; but, do you attend to the cooking." Said Gazelle, "I? When the town's people shall hear the kettle boiling, then will they say, 'Whom has Ihêli killed in the town of his brother-in-law, that he cooks at night'?"

Leopard boiled the kettle. It was cooked; and he said to Gazelle, "Go, cut down a bunch of plantains, out there in the back-yard." (This he said, hoping that Gazelle would fall into that pit, either in going out or coming in.) But, Gazelle said, "I? When the town's people hear the strokes of the machete, and the crash of the fall of the bunch, then, will they not suspect me, and say, 'What meat has Ihêli killed, that he is cutting down a plantain at night?' Cut it yourself." Leopard went and cut down a bunch of plantains, and said to Gazelle, "Now, come and peel the plantains, and cook them." Gazelle refused, "No; do you peel and cook. I'm in bed. I'll eat only greens." Then Leopard said (making a last effort to get Gazelle into the pit), "Well, go to the back-yard, and pluck pepper for the soup." Gazelle again refused, "No: when the town's-people hear the plucking of the pods, will they not say, 'What animal has Ihêli killed that he is gathering pepper for the soup?'"

Finally, Leopard, having done all the work, and finished cooking, and set the table, said, "Come, Ihêli, I have finished all. Come, and eat." Gazelle came, but said, "First, put out all the lights." Leopard did so. And Gazelle added, "We will understand that whichever, at the close of the meal, has the largest pile of bones by his plate, shall be known as the one who killed the woman." Leopard agreed. The light having been extinguished, they ate in darkness. But, while they were eating. Gazelle chose only the bony pieces that had little meat; and, having picked them, he quietly laid the bones by Leopard's plate. When they had finished eating, the torches were re-lighted, and Gazelle cried out at Leopard's big pile of bones. They were counted.