One day, in the reeds, a fox came across a hungry tiger. The tiger growled - the fox froze with fear. I thought: “My last hour has come, if I don’t deceive the striped one.” But what to do? The tiger is about to jump! Then the fox pretended to be shaking not from fear, but from laughter: “Ha-ha-ha!”
The surprised tiger sat down, not understanding anything, and asked:
- What are you laughing at? - At you, unfortunate one! - answered the fox, bursting into feigned laughter. - What? Above me? - the tiger growled. “Of course!” - said the fox. “You, poor thing, think that you’re going to eat me, but I can’t stop laughing.” Ha-ha-ha!.. After all, no one is afraid of you anymore! But everyone is afraid of me, even people!
The tiger thought: “What if it’s true? Then it’s dangerous to touch the fox!” But I still had my doubts.
“I see you don’t believe it,” said the fox. - Follow me. If people are not afraid of me, then you can eat me and my tail.
The tiger agreed and they set off. They began to approach the road along which the peasants were returning from the city.
- Don't lag behind! - Lisa shouted and ran forward.
The tiger leaps after her in huge leaps. People saw a terrible tiger rushing towards the road! They screamed, dropped everything and started running.
Then the fox leaned out of the tall grass, where it was completely out of sight, and screamed to the tiger: “Well, have you seen it?” One tip of my tail put them to flight! And no one even looked at you!
The stupid tiger lowered its muzzle in shame and sadly trudged back into its reeds.
Now the fox was laughing for real!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru