The Hare and His Kettle-Drum
The Elephant, in a most unseemly fashion, didst raid the Hare's garden, consuming the largest gourd therein.
Whereupon the Hare, in a state of considerable agitation, didst exclaim, 'Pray, who hath partaken of my grandest pumpkin?'
The Elephant, however, maintained a most conspicuous silence.
The Hare, with a cunning born of desperation, didst procure his kettle-drum and secreted himself within the largest remaining gourd in the aforementioned garden.
The Elephant, returning with an appetite undiminished, didst devour this self-same gourd.
Then, from within the Elephant's very stomach, the Hare did commence to beat upon his kettle-drum with considerable vigour. 'I have thee now, miscreant! I have thee! I have! Thee!'
The Hare persisted in his drumming within the Elephant's interior until, alas, the great beast succumbed to his percussive torment and expired.
The populace, upon discovering the deceased Elephant, were seized with no small measure of astonishment. They didst cleave open the beast and discovered the gourd; they then didst cleave open the gourd, whereupon the Hare sprang forth and absconded with considerable mirth.
'Verily,' quoth they, 'this must account for the Elephant's demise!'
Concerning the Neighbourly Relations of the Rabbit and the Antelope
The Rabbit and the Antelope, being situated as neighbours, did each cultivate a field of beans.
It transpired, however, that the Rabbit pilfered beans from the Antelope's field, and reciprocally, the Antelope purloined beans from the Rabbit's.
Thus, it may be stated with certitude that both the Rabbit and the Antelope engaged in thievery!
In due course, the Rabbit contrived a snare in his field, whereby the Antelope was apprehended.
'I am minded to put you to death for your transgression,' the Rabbit proclaimed.
'Have mercy, I implore you,' entreated the Antelope. 'Grant me my liberty, and you shall possess all my beans.'
'That is insufficient!' retorted the Rabbit.
'Furthermore,' quoth the Antelope, 'I shall bestow upon you my hoe.'
Whereupon the Rabbit obtained all the Antelope's beans and, moreover, his hoe.
'I intend to take up residence elsewhere,' declared the Rabbit. 'For I cannot endure the proximity of a thief.'
The Hare and the Leopard
The Hare, with a basket in tow, set forth to gather pumpkins from the field.
'Pray tell, whither do you venture?' enquired the Leopard.
'To harvest pumpkins,' responded the Hare.
'Verily, you shall ne'er manage to bear a basket laden with pumpkins,' declared the Leopard.
'I possess ample strength!' exclaimed the Hare. 'Indeed, I could convey YOU within this very basket.'
The Leopard emitted a peal of laughter.
'Simply ensconce yourself within the basket,' urged the Hare. 'And I shall demonstrate my prowess.'
The Leopard, acquiescing, entered the basket, whereupon the Hare secured it tightly, ensuring the Leopard's confinement.
Thereafter, the Hare procured his hatchet and rendered the Leopard into fragmented pieces.
'Pumpkins are rendered superfluous,' quoth the Hare. 'For I shall partake of meat this evening.'
And thus, the Hare subsisted upon the Leopard's flesh for a considerable duration.
The Hare and the Aged Woman
'Pray, adopt me!' quoth the Hare unto an aged woman. 'Methinks thou dost struggle, lacking children to lend thee aid. I shall labour diligently, and thou shalt provide me sustenance.'
'Verily, Hare,' responded the aged woman, 'I shall adopt thee!'
Each day, the Hare didst take up a hoe and venture forth, yet he performed no labour.
He slumbered soundly, besmirched the hoe with mud, and returned for his evening repast.
At harvestide, the Hare didst lead the woman to a neighbour's field.
'Attend!' he proclaimed.
She commenced to gather the harvest, but her neighbour didst interpose.
'The Hare hath toiled here for mine own self,' she explained.
'Nay, the Hare didst but slumber here,' declared the neighbour. 'He performed no labour whatsoever.'
The Hare, in the meanwhile, didst flee away, chortling gleefully.
The Terpsichorean Endeavours of Sundry Beasts
A most grievous drought had befallen the land. The Lion, the Jackal, the Hippopotamus, the Elephant, and indeed, all the creatures resolved to execute a dance within the desiccated waterhole, with the intention of thereby procuring water through their percussive movements.
“Preposterous!” quoth the Rabbit. “I shall by no means participate in such a terpsichorean display.”
“Then thou shalt receive no succour from the waters thus obtained,” declared the Lion, who held dominion over them.
The assembled beasts thereupon commenced their dance, whereupon the water did once again flow forth, and they all partook thereof with considerable satisfaction.
Save only for the Rabbit.
Then, under the cloak of night, the Rabbit did venture forth and imbibe of the water likewise.
In the morningtide, their gaze fell upon his footprints imprinted along the bank.
“Did I not expressly forbid thee from drinking of this water?” roared the Lion, his voice filled with consternation.
The Rabbit merely emitted a chuckle. “Thou art powerless to prevent me! For I am the Rabbit!”