The Lion and the Rabbit

A cruel lion lived in the forest. Every day, he killed and ate a lot of animals.

The other animals were afraid the lion would kill them all.

The animals told the lion, "Let's make a deal. If you promise to eat only one

animal each day, then one of us will come to you every day. Then you don't have

to hunt and kill us."

The plan sounded well thought-out to the lion, so he

agreed, but he also said, "If you don't come every day,

I promise to kill all of you the next day!"

Each day after that, one animal went to the lion so

that the lion could eat it. Then, all the other animals

were safe.

Finally, it was the rabbit's turn to go to the lion.

The rabbit went very slowly that day, so the lion

was angry when the rabbit finally arrived.

The lion angrily asked the rabbit, "Why are

you late?"

"I was hiding from another lion in the

forest. That lion said he was the king, so I

was afraid."

The lion told the rabbit, "I am the only king

here! Take me to

that other lion,

and I will kill him."

The rabbit replied, "I will be happy

to show you where he lives."

The rabbit led the lion to an old well in the middle

of the forest. The well was very deep with water at the

bottom. The rabbit told the lion, "Look in there. The lion

lives at the bottom."

When the lion looked in the well, he could see his

own face in the water. He thought that was the other lion.

Without waiting another moment, the lion jumped into

the well to attack the other lion. He never came out.

All of the other animals in the forest were very pleased

with the rabbit's clevertrick.