Once
when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him; this
soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his big
jaws to swallow him. "Pardon, O King," cried the little Mouse:
"forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: who knows but what I may
be able to do you a turn some of these days?" The Lion was so tickled at
the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let
him go.
Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, and the
hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while
they went in search of a waggon to carry him on. Just then the little Mouse
happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up
to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. "Was
I not right?" said the little Mouse.