X The Gazelle Outwits the Leopard
Once upon a time a Leopard and a Gazelle lived together with their wives and families in the same town. One day the Leopard said: “Friend Gazelle, let us go and buy some drums in the Zombo country.” “All right,” replied the Gazelle; “but where is the money?” “I have the money by me,” answered the Leopard.
They started, and when they had walked a little way the Leopard growled out: “Wait here. I must return to the town, as I have forgotten something.” The Leopard returned to the town and went to the Gazelle’s wife and said: “My friend has sent me for his children.” Mrs. Gazelle gave them to him, and putting them into a bag, he returned to the place where he left the Gazelle. They started again, and when they had travelled a long distance the Leopard saw some honey in a hole in one of the trees, whereupon he said to the Gazelle: “Wait for me here while I go to eat the honey, but you must not undo the sack.”
The Gazelle was left to guard the sack, which he untied, and looking in, he exclaimed: “Why, they are my children!” He put the sack on his back and hurried to the town, gave his children back to his wife, and went to the Leopard’s house and said: “My friend has sent me for his children.” Mrs. Leopard gave them to him. He put them in the sack and returned quickly to the spot where the Leopard had left him. After a time the Leopard arrived, licking the honey off his lips, and, picking up the bag, away they went again on their journey. By and by they reached Zombo and bought some drums, and when the Leopard paid the money for them, he whispered: “Don’t undo the bag now, there are some gazelles in it.”
As they were returning home they tried the drums. The Leopard beat a tune and sang: “The stupid people go on foolish journeys.” For the Leopard thought the Gazelle had helped to sell his own children for drums. The Gazelle then beat a tune and sang: “At the place where they ate honey they left their bag of wisdom.” The Leopard did not know he had exchanged his own children for drums.
On their way home they played and sang in many towns, and received goats and pigs as presents for their entertainment. On reaching their town the Gazelle hurried to his house, and sent off his wife and children to hide.
The Leopard went to his house, and, looking round, he asked his wife: “Where are my children?” “Why, you sent the Gazelle for them,” she replied; “and now you ask: ‘Where are the children?’” The Leopard went in great rage to the Gazelle’s house, but the Gazelle ran away, and as he was escaping, he cried out: “I am the wise Gazelle who has outwitted your craftiness.”