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THE ENCHANTED PARROT


surprised," said the jackal. " Do you mean that you are afraid of what after all is only a piece of human flesh ? " "I was close to her," answered the tiger, " and what she did and said was enough to frighten any one." The jackal answered: " Well, I think I shall go by myself and see if I can find this tiger-eating lady. You had perhaps better not come, as she might recognize you again." " Whether you go with me or without me," replied the tiger, " it will make no difference; you are certain to be destroyed."

" Well, then," said the jackal, " let me mount on your back, and we will go together." So the jackal was tied on the tiger's back and off they started, and very soon found the tiger-eater with her two sons. She felt a little nervous at first, seeing the tiger had come back accompanied by a jackal, but reflecting a minute she cried out: " You rascally jackal ! once upon a time you used to bring me three tigers at once; what do you mean by coming here with only one ? " The tiger heard this, and was so frightened that he turned and fled with the jackal on his back.