'"Dear me! Fancy such a great fat creature being able to fight!"
cried the hare. "But don't vex yourself. Just lie still, and your
wounds will soon heal," and she bade her friend, good bye, and
returned to her family.

'Two or three weeks passed, and only bare places on the donkey's
back showed where the lion's claws had been, while, on his side,
the lion had recovered from his illness and was now as strong as
ever. He was beginning to think that it was almost time for him
to begin hunting again, when one morning a rustle was heard in
the creepers outside, and the hare's head peeped through.

'"Ah! there is no need to ask how you are," she said. "Still you
mustn't overtire yourself, you know. Shall I go and bring you
your dinner?"

'"If you will bring me that donkey I will tear it in two," cried
the lion savagely, and the hare laughed and nodded and went on
her errand.

'This time the donkey was much further than before, and it took
longer to find her. At last the hare caught sight of four hoofs
in the air, and ran towards them. The donkey was lying on a soft
cool bed of moss near a stream, rolling herself backwards and
forwards from pleasure.

'"Good morning," said the hare politely, and the donkey got
slowly on to her legs, and looked to see who her visitor could
be.