"You stuck thorns in my flesh. You said to me, 'I will make you some
shoes.' Now what shall I do to you?"
"It was not I," said the jackal.
"It was you, and the proof is that you have your tail cut off."
"But all my cousins are without tails, like me."
"You lie, joker."
"Let me call them and you will see."
"Call them."
At his call the jackals ran up, all without tails.
"Which of you is a shoemaker?" asked the lion.
"All of us," they answered.
He said to them: "I am going to bring you some red pepper. You shall eat of
it, and the one who says, 'Ouch!' that will be the one I'm looking for."
"Go and get it."
He brought them some red pepper, and they were going to eat it when the
first jackal made a noise with his shoes, but he said to the lion, "My
uncle, I did not say, 'Ouch!'" The lion sent them away, and they went about
their business.
* * * * *