"A herd of wild elephants is passing through our colony," he said.
"They have already killed or injured thousands of us. We have to take urgent
steps to prevent more deaths. I want all of you to think of a way to save our
race." The rabbits thought and thought. How could they stop the elephants? One
little rabbit stood up.
"Your Majesty," he said, "if you will send me as your messenger to
the king of the elephants, I may be able to find a solution." "By all means, go
as my messenger and see what you can do." The little rabbit hurried out.
He saw a group of elephants returning from the lake. Right in the
middle was the king. To get near him was impossible. "I will be crushed to
death,' thought the rabbit. So he climbed up a huge rock.
"O, king of the elephants," he shouted, "hear me, please." The king
heard his voice and turned towards him.
"Well, who are you?" he asked. "I am a messenger," replied the
rabbit. "A messenger? From whom?" "I am a messenger from the mighty Moon." "What
is your business? Is there a message for me from the Moon?" "Yes, yes, your
Majesty. But you must not be angry with me. Please remember that a messenger is
never punished for what he has to say. He is only doing his duty." "Very well.
Say what you have been sent to say. I shall not harm you." "Sir," said the
little rabbit, "the Moon has this to say"
" You, the king of the elephants, have brought your herd to my holy
lake and soiled its waters. You have killed thousands of rabbits on your way to
the lake. You know that rabbits are under my special protection. Everyone knows
that the king of the rabbits lives with me. I ask you not to kill any more
rabbits. Otherwise something terrible will happen to you and your herd."
The king of the elephants was shocked. He looked at the little
rabbit. "You are right," he said. "We may have killed many rabbits on our way to
the lake. I shall see that you do not suffer anymore. I shall request the Moon
to forgive me for my sins. Please tell me what I should do." "Come with me
alone," replied the rabbit. "Come, I shall take you to the Moon." The little
rabbit took the huge elephant to the lake. There they saw the Moon reflected in
the still waters. "There, your Majesty, meet the Moon," said the little rabbit.
"Let me worship the divine Moon," said the elephant, and dipped his
trunk into the water. At once the water was disturbed. The Moon seemed to move
to and fro. The rabbit said, "Now the Moon is angrier than ever." "Why?' asked
the king. "What have I done?" "You have touched the holy waters of the lake,"
replied the rabbit. The elephant bowed his head. "Please ask the Moon to forgive
me. Never again will we touch the holy waters of this lake. Never again will we
harm the rabbits whom the Moon loves so much." And the king and his herd went
away. Soon there was rain and the elephants lived happily. It did not occur to
them ever that a little rabbit had fooled them.
