The Tiger and the Clever Hare

Long ago in the terai forests of Chitwan, a great tiger terrorised all the animals. Each day he prowled the riverbank demanding tribute — a deer, a boar, whatever he pleased — and every creature obeyed out of fear. But one small hare refused to tremble.

"I will go to the tiger myself," said the hare, "and end this tyranny."

The other animals laughed. The hare was barely the size of the tiger's paw. Yet the hare set off at dusk, taking a long, winding path to the deep well at the centre of the forest.

When she finally arrived before the tiger, long past the agreed hour, he roared with fury. "Why are you late? I should eat you twice for this!"

"Great Tiger," said the hare, bowing low, "I would have been here at dawn, but another tiger on the northern path stopped me. He said he was the true king of this forest and that I should bring him my tribute instead. I barely escaped with my life."

The tiger's eyes went red. "Show me this imposter!"

The hare led him to the deep well. The tig