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THIRTEENTH EVENING.

 

THE COUNCIL OF QUADRUPEDS.

In the interior of the Cape of Good Hepe, the
beasts of the forest had for ages Lved in comparative
peace; but when the Europeans spread themsclyes
along the coast, and forced their way into the woods,
the wounded and terrified animals felt that the secu-
rity they had so long enjoyed was gone. ‘They per-
ceived that a different race of men, armed with new
and more formidable weapons, had usurped the place
of the Hottentot and Bushman.

As the new settlers increased in number, the wild
beasts sensibly diminished. In this state of things,
a party of hunters one day entered the forest, and,
with the assistance of their dogs, raised and gave
chase to many different species of animals with which
that part of Africa abounds. Several were killed, but
others escaped by swimming across the White River,
among whom were the lion and the elephant. The
dogs had the temerity to follow them; and the boldest,
attempting to seize the lion, received a blow from his
paw that laid him dead at his feet; another made a
spring at the elephant, but that sagacious animal caught
him with his trunk, and threw him senseless into the
stream. The rest were terrified, and returned to their
masters.

After congratulating cach other on their escape, the
thoughts of the elephant and lion naturally turned on
the means of revenge. Various plans were suggested
and dismissed, but at last they resolved to call a ge-
neral council of the quadrupeds, wherein the subject
might receive the maturest deliberation, and their
cceision be carried into prom pt and vigorous exeeu-
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