At this the monkey poked his head out from among the upper branches
and asked, in great surprise, "Going? Where?"
"To my home, of course."
"Are you mad?" queried Keema.
"Mad? Why, what do you mean?" cried Papa.
"What's the matter with you?" said the monkey. "Do you take me for
a washerman's donkey?"
"What peculiarity is there about a washerman's donkey?"
"It is a creature that has neither heart nor ears."
The shark, his curiosity overcoming his haste, thereupon begged to
be told the story of the washerman's donkey, which the monkey related
as follows:
"A washerman owned a donkey, of which he was very fond. One day,
however, it ran away, and took up its abode in the forest, where it
led a lazy life, and consequently grew very fat.
"At length Soongoo'ra, the hare, by chance passed that way, and saw
Poon'da, the donkey.
"Now, the hare is the most cunning of all beasts--if you look at
his mouth you will see that he is always talking to himself about
everything.
"So when Soongoora saw Poonda he said to himself, 'My, this donkey
is fat!' Then he went and told Sim'ba, the lion.
"As Simba was just recovering from a severe illness, he was still so
weak that he could not go hunting. He was consequently pretty hungry.
"Said Mr. Soongoora, 'I'll bring enough meat to-morrow for both of
us to have a great feast, but you'll have to do the killing.'
"'All right, good friend,' exclaimed Simba, joyfully; 'you're very
kind.'
"So the hare scampered off to the forest, found the donkey, and said
to her, in his most courtly manner, 'Miss Poonda, I am sent to ask
your hand in marriage.'
"'By whom?' simpered the donkey.
"'By Simba, the lion.'
"The donkey was greatly elated at this, and exclaimed: 'Let's go at
once. This is a first-class offer.'
"They soon arrived at the lion's home, were cordially invited in,
and sat down. Soongoora gave Simba a signal with his eyebrow, to
the effect that this was the promised feast, and that he would wait
outside. Then he said to Poonda: 'I must leave you for a while to
attend to some private business. You stay here and converse with your
husband that is to be.'
"As soon as Soongoora got outside, the lion sprang at Poonda, and
they had a great fight. Simba was kicked very hard, and he struck
with his claws as well as his weak health would permit him. At last
the donkey threw the lion down, and ran away to her home in the forest.
"Shortly after, the hare came back, and called, 'Haya! Simba! have
you got it?'
"'I have not got it,' growled the lion; 'she kicked me and ran away;
but I warrant you I made her feel pretty sore, though I'm not strong.'
"'Oh, well,' remarked Soongoora; 'don't put yourself out of the way
about it.'
"Then Soongoora waited many days, until the lion and the donkey
were both well and strong, when he said: 'What do you think now,
Simba? Shall I bring you your meat?'
"'Ay,' growled the lion, fiercely; 'bring it to me. I'll tear it in
two pieces!'
"So the hare went off to the forest, where the donkey welcomed him
and asked the news.
"'You are invited to call again and see your lover,' said Soongoora.
"'Oh, dear!' cried Poonda; 'that day you took me to him he scratched
me awfully. I'm afraid to go near him now.'
"'Ah, pshaw!' said Soongoora; 'that's nothing. That's only Simba's
way of caressing.'
"'Oh, well,' said the donkey, 'let's go.'
"So off they started again; but as soon as the lion caught sight of
Poonda he sprang upon her and tore her in two pieces.
"When the hare came up, Simba said to him: 'Take this meat and roast
it. As for myself, all I want is the heart and ears.'
"'Thanks,' said Soongoora. Then he went away and roasted the meat in
a place where the lion could not see him, and he took the heart and
ears and hid them. Then he ate all the meat he needed, and put the
rest away.
"Presently the lion came to him and said, 'Bring me the heart and
ears.'
"'Where are they?' said the hare.
"'What does this mean?' growled Simba.
"'Why, didn't you know this was a washerman's donkey?'
"'Well, what's that to do with there being no heart or ears?'
"'For goodness' sake, Simba, aren't you old enough to know that if
this beast had possessed a heart and ears it wouldn't have come back
the second time?'
"Of course the lion had to admit that what Soongoora, the hare,
said was true.
"And now," said Keema to the shark, "you want to make a washerman's
donkey of me. Get out of there, and go home by yourself. You are not
going to get me again, and our friendship is ended. Good-bye, Papa."