A fierce lion named Bhasuraka ruled the forest. Every day he hunted far more animals than he could eat.
The frightened animals made a deal with him. “Stay in your cave,” they said, “and each day one of us will come to you.” The lion agreed.
One day it was the turn of a small rabbit. He was scared, but he was also very clever. He walked slowly, and he came to the lion very late.
“Why are you so late?” roared the hungry lion.
“Sorry, Your Majesty,” said the rabbit. “On the way, another lion stopped me. He says he is the real king of this forest!”
“Another king?” the lion growled. “Show him to me at once!”
The rabbit led him to a deep well. “He lives down there,” he whispered. The lion looked in and saw his own angry face in the water. He roared, and the well roared back.
The lion jumped in to fight the other lion — and he never came out. The rabbit ran home, and all the animals of the forest lived in peace.
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