A Tiger, named Old Guile, who had grown weak with age, was lying under
a tree by the side of a lake in quest of some animal off which he could
make a meal.
A Giraffe, named Tall Stripes, who came to the lake to quench his
thirst, attracted his attention, and Old Guile addressed him as
follows: "Oh, what a happy day! I see there the son of my old friend
Yellow Haunch, who lived in the great forest near that distant
mountain."
Tall Stripes was astonished to hear the words of Old Guile, and asked
him how he, a Tiger, could be the friend of his father, a Giraffe.
"I am not surprised at your question," replied Old Guile; "it is a
truth known to very few indeed that the Tiger and the Giraffe belong to
the same family. Just look at your skin and my own: yours is of a pale
yellow colour, mine is very nearly the same; you have stripes, I have
them, too. What more proofs do you want?"
Tall Stripes, who was extremely simple and guileless, believed these
words, and said: "I am very happy to know that my father was your
friend, and that we are of the same family. Can I do anything for you?"
Old Guile replied, "No, thank you; old as I am, I make it a point of
relying on myself. Further, a great part of my time is spent in prayer
and meditation; for I consider it necessary, at this age, to devote all
my attention to spiritual things. It will, however, be a great
gratification to me to have your company whenever you should chance to
pass by this lake."
Tall Stripes acceded to this request, and was about to go on his Way,
when Old Guile observed; "My dear Tall Stripes, you are well aware of
the instability of all earthly things. I am old and infirm, and who
knows what may happen to me to-morrow. Perhaps I may not see you
again; so let me do myself the pleasure of embracing you before you
leave me for the present."
"Certainly," said Tall Stripes. Thereupon Old Guile rose up slowly
from his seat, like one devoid of all energy, and embracing him,
plunged his deadly teeth into his long neck, and stretching him on the
ground made a hearty breakfast on him.
_Beware of the crafty professions of the wicked_.