This happened a long time ago, in that good old time when the animals still talked. Once upon a time there lived a little cunning mongoose, and he had a big beautiful hunting dog. The dog faithfully served its owner. Every day, whether it was raining or the sun was scorching, the hardworking dog went hunting and always returned with prey. And not just any, but big prey! He brought at least ten or twelve pieces of various animals. The mongoose was very proud of him. In the whole area he was the only one who had such a nice dog. And although they say: “Good glory lies, and bad glory runs along the path,” good fame spread about the mongoose dog throughout all the surrounding villages and settlements. Even in the mountains, hollows and gorges, the skilled animal hunters who lived there learned about it.
The crocodile, an equally skilled hunter, or rather a robber and the threat of the local river expanses, also found out about her. And when I found out, I decided to visit the mongoose and check if this was true? Are the animals telling the truth?
The mongoose received the crocodile hospitably and offered him a mat.
“I heard,” said the crocodile as soon as he stepped on the threshold of the house, “about your dog.” They tell such tales that every day she brings you ten or twelve pieces of all kinds of animals. Is this true?
- You ask: “Is this so?” - said the mongoose. “It’s obvious that you don’t believe what everyone knows well.” And everyone knows my dog - they only gossip about her in our area.
“No, I believe,” the crocodile answered in confusion, seeing how the mongoose had misinterpreted his words. - I asked: “Is this so?” - only because I don’t always believe rumors.
- These rumors can be believed. The animals speak the truth. “Such a dog,” the mongoose continued, “is a gift of fate.” She has no price! She feeds me and all the residents of my village.
- Tell me, please, what is she like? How is it different from its brothers?
- Hm! How is it different? This is a purebred dog! What could he have in common with a pack of dogs?!
- How I would like to take a look at her at least with one eye. Show me, do me a favor...
- Yes, she’s not at home. She hasn't returned from the hunt yet.
- I wish I had a dog like that. Maybe you can sell it, huh? - the old scoundrel decided to try his luck, hoping to somehow deceive the mongoose.
The crafty deceiver forgot that the mongoose is small but cunning.
— To tell the truth, I had no intention of selling it. But since you’re so excited... And then, if you divide the loot in half, and treat the dog well... Why not sell it?!
- How much will you ask?
- Yes, we need to take five goats.
- A bit expensive...
- A little expensive?.. It’s up to you, you don’t have to buy a dog, let your goats go hunting. Only a good deal! In two or three days you will understand that I gave it to you for nothing. After all, every day she brings so much loot! You need to look at the root. But you know, it’s not me who’s coming to your house, it’s you, it’s not me who is forcing the dog on you, but you asking me to sell it. If we don’t agree on the price, all the best. You stay with yours, and I’ll stay with mine, and that’s the end of the matter!
The crocodile smiled: he considered that the job was done, because the mongoose agreed to sell the dog. And the price? Five goats equals five goats! If only this bastard didn’t change his mind, the crocodile went after the goats.
Here the mongoose smiled. No, he didn’t smile, he laughed. No, he didn’t laugh, but laughed and laughed for a long time, until he dropped: he deftly beat the green one, he didn’t even see the dog he was selling.
An hour later, the mongoose was just about to go hunting with his dog, and lo and behold, a leopard was walking towards his house.
Apparently, he is in a hurry, afraid of being late. And he looks so worried.
The mongoose hid the dog - why flaunt your goods? - he sat down importantly at the threshold and began to wait for the noble guest - after all, a thunderstorm for the local forests and fields. While waiting, he filled his pipe, lit it, and took several puffs with pleasure.
Spotted greeted the mongoose, who offered him a mat and a pipe as a sign of respect. Blowing smoke from his nostrils, the leopard began to tell the mongoose all the gossip he knew. He chatted and chatted, trying to charm the owner of the house, then he couldn’t stand it and asked directly:
- I heard you have a hunting dog! Won't you sell it?
The mongoose shrugged, took a drag, coughed, spat and said, staring at his interlocutor:
- Well, it’s true, I have a dog, but why should I sell it? You know, there is no other one like it in our area. She feeds me.
“Animals don’t lie,” the leopard sighed. - I should look at her.
— I don’t take money for viewing, please. Only she hasn’t returned from the hunt yet, and I don’t know when she’ll return. Sell! You will say the same... Who will give a good price? For example, will you pay properly?
- Why not? Such a dog is worth a lot, I know that. Speak: how much do you want? - said the leopard, glaring at the mongoose. - Well, what's your price?
He really hoped that he would be able to trick this little guy: pay a portion, get a dog and... remember his name. Where can a mongoose compete with a leopard?
- Give me five goats.
- Well, if that's what you want, then have it your way. Pleased with himself and how cleverly he managed to persuade the mongoose to sell the dog, the leopard disappeared into the thicket of the forest, and before the mongoose had time to count to three, five goats lay at his feet, each more plump than the other. The mongoose sent them into the pen, and he himself, kindly thanking the leopard, said:
- Well, now everything is in order: the goats are mine, and the dog is yours!
- The dog is mine, but where is it? — the leopard asked with undisguised concern.
- Like where? I told you: on the hunt. Come here. You see,” and he waved in the direction where the crocodile had crawled away, “there the river glitters, that’s where it should come from.” But you better hide here in the bushes and wait, let him come closer, and then take her. Will you just hold it? She's very strong. We'll have to use teeth and claws.
“Don’t worry, this won’t be the case.” Just tell me exactly where to hide. No one has yet doubted my strength,” the leopard said proudly.
The mongoose had no doubt: the leopard would not give up, and the crocodile would not give up either. The mouth of a crocodile is especially scary. And since the leopard did not know what the dog looked like, the mongoose described to him in every detail the appearance of the crocodile, once again noting:
- It’s very evil, be careful, if you hesitate, you’ll end up in trouble!
The spotted leopard patiently and attentively listened to the mongoose’s advice and lay down in the bushes that the sly man pointed out to him.
Meanwhile, the mongoose, waiting for the crocodile, was anticipating how the two seasoned robbers would fight.
The crocodile was easy to remember, just at that very moment he laid his goats on the threshold. The mongoose took them into the pen, returned to the crocodile and said:
- It's done. Now the goats are mine, and the dog is yours!
“Well, since the dog is mine, tell me where it is,” asked the crocodile.
- Do you see the bushes over there? - And the mongoose showed the crocodile the place where the leopard had hidden, and since the green one did not know what the dog looked like, the mongoose described the appearance of the leopard exactly and added: - Look, be careful. She won’t fall into your hands so easily, she has such teeth and such claws...
- This is nonsense... No teeth or claws are dangerous for me. You can't bite through my skin!
- Oh yes, of course. And then, it’s your concern, my job is to warn you.
Without hesitating any longer, the crocodile crawled towards the leopard. And the mongoose whistled for the dog, picked up his belongings, sent ten goats ahead and set off on his way to look for a new shelter. He walked and sang cheerfully:
Stay happy
Fight and fight
Green crocodile,
Spotted leopard...
And the green crocodile and the spotted leopard really fought, and fought not to the gut, but to the death. Silently, they stubbornly wore each other down, and neither one nor the other wanted to give in. Night fell, morning dawned, a new day dawned, and they all fought, and it seemed that there would be no end to this massacre. Only towards the end of the second day, when the daylight had faded, did the man see the crocodile and leopard.
- How did you annoy each other and why are you fighting so terribly? he asked.
Hearing a human voice, the crocodile and leopard stopped fighting, and each began to prove that he was right.
“This is my dog,” said the leopard, “I bought it from the mongoose, giving away five goats.” Green was indignant:
- What did you say? Am I your dog? I'm not a dog, but a crocodile! You are my dog, I bought you from the mongoose. He gave him five goats.
- What nonsense! “I am a leopard,” said the spotted one. The man laughed merrily, listening to their squabble, and then remarked:
- The little mongoose had a great time with you. He got the goats and kept the dog for himself. Oh, didn't he tear his stomach from laughing, making fun of your stupidity!
And the crocodile and leopard, realizing that they had been deceived, rushed to the mongoose, but there was no trace of it. The sly man was far away, and no matter how much they looked for him and asked whoever they asked, no one even saw him.
He ran away, but the evil he created haunts him: the crocodile and the leopard have been looking for the cunning mongoose ever since to punish him as he deserves.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru