  Characters—Lion, Rabbit, Mother Deer, Elephant, Camel, Jackal, other animals Scene I—The ForestMother Deer. Brave Lion, give me back my little deer. Lion. I will not. The deer is mine. Mother Deer. O Lion, it is the only one I have. I beg of you, give it back to me. Lion. A lion does not give back what he has taken. Be off, or I will eat you. Scene II—Another Part of the ForestMother Deer. Can you not help me, animals? The lion has taken my little deer, the only one I had. Elephant. I am sorry for you. But the lion is the king of the forest. He takes what he will and keeps what he likes. I cannot help you. Mother Deer. [Goes on.] Can you not help me, Camel? You are always kind and gentle. Camel. The lion did wrong to take your deer. He did a great wrong, but I cannot help you. Mother Deer. [Goes on.] Surely, little jackal, you will help me. Jackal. Sh! Sh! I’m afraid of the lion, myself. We’ve never been very good friends. I wish I could help you. Let me see. I have it! Go to Bunny Rabbit. He’s a little creature, but he’s wise and brave. Mother Deer. You say he’s wise? Jackal. He is. Mother Deer. And brave? Jackal. He is. Mother Deer. Then I will go at once. Scene III—In Front of Bunny Rabbit’s BurrowBunny Rabbit. Good morning, Mother Deer. What is the matter? Mother Deer. Bunny Rabbit, that wicked lion stole my little deer and will not give it to me. I asked the forest animals to help me, but none was brave enough to do so. Bunny Rabbit. Not even the elephant, or the camel, or the jackal? Mother Deer. Not one. I asked them all. They all said they were sorry. But I believe they are all afraid of the lion. Bunny Rabbit. Why did you come to me? I’m such a little creature. Mother Deer. The jackal told me you are wise and brave, and he said that you would help me. Bunny Rabbit. Tell them all to meet Scene IV—In Front of the Burrow[Bunny Rabbit and all the animals. Lion watching in the distance. Only Elephant and Camel see him.] Bunny Rabbit. Elephant, do you think the lion should keep the little deer? Elephant. The lion is king of the forest, and he should keep the little deer. Bunny Rabbit. Camel, what do you say? Camel. Dear me. What can I say? It is all wrong. But I’m sure he should keep what he stole. Bunny Rabbit. How you tremble, little jackal! What do you say? Jackal. [Seeing the lion.] Oh! Do I tremble? No, yes, no, yes, yes. I think he should keep the deer. Bunny Rabbit. [In a loud voice.] The lion should not keep the deer! The lion is a wicked thief! [Lion springs at him. Bunny Rabbit darts down into the burrow.] Lion. [Looking into the burrow.] Gone down there, has he? Well, I’ll fix him. I’ll stay right here until he comes out. I’ll stay, and stay, and stay, until I starve him out. Scene V—Another Part of the ForestBunny Rabbit. Run, Mother Deer, and get your little one. Mother Deer. Won’t that wicked lion come again? Bunny Rabbit. No, no! He’s going to stay in front of my burrow until I come out. Ha! ha! He’ll starve to death himself if he waits for that! Ha! ha! [Mother Deer runs to the little deer, and both escape into the forest.] |
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