The only animal not afraid was the rabbit. He lived under the ground and would come out for food only when he was sure the forest was safe.
One evening, at the meeting place all the animals were gathered. ‘Monkey asked, what can we do about the fierce tiger?’ pigs said now we are tired of being scared. It was then that the clever rabbit stood up and said: ‘you leave him to me and soon we will live without fear.’ The animals were very thankful to the rabbit, but they did not have faith in that such a small creature could help them get rid of the big, ferocious tiger. ‘You’re only small,’ they said. ‘What will you do against such a big and strong tiger?’ Just wait and see, ’said the clever rabbit, jumping over to the side of the tiger’s den in the dense forest.
When the clever rabbit approached the tiger he was very
scared but why did he keep his heart and was sure to work on his plan. ‘I have
come to inform you that there is a more powerful tiger in this forest than
you,’ he said. ‘It’s impossible! ‘The tiger growled. ‘I am the most powerful
tiger and now I will eat you up right now to prove it. ‘But why am I telling
the truth,’ replied the clever rabbit. ‘This tiger has captured my brother and
has warned me that he will come back and challenge any animals that he thinks
is more powerful than him. ‘Show me where he is,’ the tiger demanded, ‘and
we’ll see who is more powerful. ‘‘If you show me,’ replied the rabbit, ‘’do you
promise not to eat me or my brother up?’ ‘I promise,’ said the Tiger. And so
the rabbit and the tiger went together.
Moments later, the rabbit knelt down and pretended not to
continue the search. ‘I’m so tired,’ she said. "Can you carry me?"
The tiger agreed to carry the clever rabbit with his big paws and continued his
journey.
It was not long before the two of them reached a small
clearing in the jungle where there was a very deep well with water at the
bottom. ‘The tiger that has challenged you sits at the bottom of this well,’
said the clever rabbit. ‘And with him is your little brother? The tiger asked.
Yes, he is with him. But you won't eat us because you promised. The tiger
smiled and slowly moved to the edge of the deep well. When he reached the edge
of the well, he looked down into the darkness and thought that he had seen a
tiger holding a rabbit. You will now fulfill your promise and save my brother.
Said the clever rabbit. I won’t do anything like that! The tiger growled. I
will eat you and your brother and destroy the tiger that has challenged me in
my own forest!
But as the words came out of the tiger's mouth, the
clever rabbit jumped on him and left the tiger to fight his enemy alone. What
the tiger did not understand was that he saw his reflection in the water at the
bottom of the well. The bloodthirsty tiger jumped into the well thinking it was
attacking its enemy. But instead of another tiger waiting at the bottom of the
well, he was confronted with only dark and cold water. He tried and sprinkled
water and did his best to pull himself out of the well with his claws. But
eventually the bloodthirsty tiger lost its strength and drowned. ‘You’ll be big
and powerful, said the clever rabbit, ‘but I am the cleverest!’
When the rabbit returned to the interview center, he
informed all the other animals that the bloodthirsty tiger had died. ‘Now you
can all live without any fear! ‘He shouted.
The animals were very happy and very grateful to the
clever rabbit, and there was a great celebration that night because the forest
was finally saved from the bloodthirsty tiger forever.