Lion and Civet were
great friends. One day Civet said to Lion, “Look, it is true that we have a very
good life. But there is one thing that we lack. And that is cattle! You know
very well how important it is to own cattle. So let’s go out and get some.” They
went out to look for cattle. Lion bought a bull, and Civet bought a cow. They
returned home and started looking after their animals.

    Time passed. The cow
became pregnant and calved. This happened when Civet was not around. Lion
removed the calf from where the cow was and placed it where his bull was. When
Civet came back from the river, the Lion hurried to him and with great
excitement broke the news, “Look!” he cried. “My bull has calved!”

    This sparked off a
dispute between the two friends. Civet maintained that only his cow could have
given birth to the calf, and that bulls never calved. The Lion insisted
vehemently that his bull had calved. As the two continued to argue, Hare
overheard them on his way to the river, felt sorry for Civet, and decided to
help him.

    On the way, Lion asked
him, “My friend, where are you heading to?” Hare said, “Oh, I’m just going down
to the river to fetch water for my father who is weak and in bed. He has just
given birth to a baby.” Hearing this, Lion roared with laughter and told Hare to
stop being foolish. “How could you father give birth to a baby?” Hare promptly
answered, “But you are claiming that your bull calved!”

    Suddenly enraged, Lion
flew at Hare, and Hare took to his heels. With Lion chasing Hare, it was a
matter of life and death for him. Hare ran as fast as his legs could carry him
and entered a cave. He jumped up and held the roof of the cave, howling, “Help!
The cave is collapsing!” And that same instant, Lion was already in the cave,
and he, too, jumped up and helped to hold up the roof with all his strength.

   
“Now,” Hare said, “hold on, otherwise the cave is going to crush us. I have an
idea to lighten this task for us. I will go out and get some people to help us
hold up the cave. Hold on it tight the mighty one!” Lion stretched his muscles
and pushed the rook of the cave up more firmly. Hare left Lion there, never to
return. Lion held up that rock for a whole day, and, in the end, he died from
exhaustion. Hare came along and saw that Lion was dead. He set out looking for
Civet, and when he met him, he called him to come and see what happened to Lion.
When Civet saw that Lion was dead, he rejoiced and thanked Hare for his great
work. Finally, Hare told Civet to go and take all the cattle for they were now
his.