A Donkey one day thought that the time had come for him to go and seek his fortune; so he broke his halter and ran away into the broad fields. The grass was high and rank, and there was no lack of thistles. Happy over his good fortune, Brother Donkey brayed so loud and so joyously that Mr. Lion, who happened to be passing that way, stopped to inquire what the matter could be.

At the sight of Brother Donkey, Mr. Lion was paralyzed with astonishment. Never, in all his wanderings, had he seen such a creature. Mr. Lion looked at Brother Donkey from a distance. Then he approached a little nearer, and finally mustered up courage to say:

"Who are you, and what is your name?"

"My name is Brother Donkey," replied the other, "and I am the ruler of all Donkeydom."

"I do not know that country," said Mr. Lion, "but I myself am a monarch, and the most of the other animals have chosen me for their king."

"If that is the case," said Brother Donkey, "we are brothers, and we will continue our travels together."

"With the greatest pleasure," responded Mr. Lion. "One can only gain by being in good company."

So the two started on their journey together. As they went along, Mr. Lion thought he saw that Brother Donkey was not as formidable as he had at first appeared. There was something in his gait, something in his appearance, that led to this suspicion, and when he saw a tiger, he seemed to be so frightened that the King of the Desert said:

"Come, my friend, and let us wrestle together for fun."

"No, no, my comrade," exclaimed Brother Donkey, "for I am so strong that in spite of myself I should be compelled to crush you with my feet."

Mr. Lion, thinking this was true, made a profound bow to the King of Donkeydom, and the two continued on their journey together. It so happened that they had to cross a river. With one bound Mr. Lion reached the other side, but, on the contrary, Brother Donkey went down into the water and began to swim in a very awkward manner; so awkward, indeed, that it seemed he was in danger of drowning.

"How is it," exclaimed Mr. Lion, in astonishment, "that you cannot swim?"

"What, I?" said Brother Donkey. "I split the water more rapidly than a boat, and the fishes themselves could not beat me in a race."

"If that is true," said Mr. Lion, "why does it take you so long to cross a stream?"

"Ah," exclaimed Brother Donkey, "it was because I had caught with my tail an eel so large and heavy that I was about to sink, and I was compelled to turn it loose in order to rejoin you."

Mr. Lion was satisfied with this answer, and the two friends resumed their journey. As they went along they soon came to a high stone wall. Mr. Lion leaped over it at a bound, but Brother Donkey was unable to get over so quickly. He raised himself on his hindlegs, placed his forefeet on the wall, and hung suspended there. Mr. Lion, seeing this, cried out:

"What are you doing there?"

"Do you not see," said Brother Donkey, "that I am weighing myself? I want to see if the part of my body in front is as heavy as the part that is behind."

Brother Donkey, after great effort, at last succeeded in getting over the wall. Mr. Lion then said to his companion:

"Powerful King of Donkeydom, my esteemed friend! I believe that you are making sport of me. I believe that your strength, at its best, is no greater than that of a child."

"Do you have such a thought as that?" said Brother Donkey, with a smile. "You make a serious mistake, great King of Beasts. Let us make a trial of strength right here. Let us see which of us is able to destroy that great wall. The one that is victorious will be known as the king of the animals."

"This is a good idea," exclaimed Mr. Lion, heartily, "and I accept your conditions with pleasure."

Immediately Mr. Lion made an effort to show his power. He struck the wall with his paws, and then with his tail. He struck it on the right and on the left, but he only wounded himself. He did not succeed in making one stone fall. At the end of a quarter of an hour he gave up in despair.

"I cannot make an impression on this strong wall," said Mr. Lion. "Let us see if you will be more fortunate."

At once Brother Donkey began to bray and kick, and he used his heels with such effect that in a few minutes the wall was knocked down and destroyed.

"What do you think of this?" cried Brother Donkey. "Do you still think you are stronger than I am?"

"No," said Mr. Lion, humbly. "Until to-day I had thought myself the king of animals, but I was mistaken, and the title belongs to you hereafter."

"But even yet," said Brother Donkey, "you do not know what I can do."

"Then," said Mr. Lion, "what can you do that is so extraordinary?"

"Well," replied Brother Donkey, "I can eat thorns."

"Thorns!" exclaimed Mr. Lion. "Do you really mean what you say?"

"Of course," said Brother Donkey, "I am telling you the simple truth."

"I would not dispute your word," said Mr. Lion, "but I am really anxious to see you perform this wonderful feat."

"Do you see the thistles growing over there in that field?" inquired Brother Donkey.

"I do, indeed," said Mr. Lion.

"Well," said Brother Donkey, "I am going to eat them."

Then Brother Donkey, who had not eaten since morning, began to devour the thistles. Astonished at this, Mr. Lion said to Brother Donkey:

"I think you are the most extraordinary creature I ever saw, and I want you to be recognized as King of the Lions. Do you consent?"

"With pleasure," Brother Donkey replied.

The next day, or shortly thereafter, a convention of all the lions was held, and Brother Donkey was elected king without any opposition whatever. He reigned over them many years, and he was the better able to do this from the fact that he never disputed with his subjects over their prey. Brother Donkey ate his thistles and the lions ate their fresh meat, and all was peace in that country.