IV


From that moment a new and exciting kind of life started. Not an hour
out of the twenty-four was free from anxiety. Always, whether it was
day or night, the Man and the dog had to take turns at guarding the
entrance. The Man gathered piles of stones and learnt how to throw them
unerringly. The dog trusted to his teeth and the fear which his bark
inspired. The animals were furiously determined; they never ceased from
attempting to surprise them. Quite often they would have succeeded, had
it not been for the robin, who hiding in the bushes, overheard their
strategies and flew back to the Man in time with warnings.

The cave was well chosen. It was approached by a steep and narrow path.
Only one enemy could attack at once, so the defenders were always able
to roll down bowlders on him before he gained a footing. That was how
they treated the lion, when he came thrashing his tail and roaring on
the first morning to make them prisoners. They gave a rock a big shove
and knocked him over like a ninepin. He was so hurt in his feelings that
he sulked in bed for a week; for many more weeks he was easily tired.
Seeing that he was the King of the Beasts and the President of their
Conference, this made the animals the more indignant and the more
determined that the Man and the dog must be punished. The next to
attempt their capture were the elephant and the rhinoceros. They boasted
that they weren't afraid of rocks; nevertheless they came together to
back up each other's courage. Half way up the slope they stuck. They
were too heavy for so steep a path. The ground crumbled from under them,