hundred thousand sticks, each about a foot long,[1] and to have them laid in rows on the bank of the river. If you will undertake to do this, we on our side will undertake to stave off the threatened invasion and to put the opposing army into a state of confusion and panic. And if we succeed in carrying out all we promise, we will ask you for the future to safeguard us against the two principal dangers which threaten the existence of the Mice who live in your country."
"I will gladly do what I can," replied the King, "to safeguard you against these dangers if you will tell me how to proceed."
"The two dangers to which I refer," continued the Mouse, "are flood and Cats. You see the majority of our burrows are in the low-lying land near the river, and whenever the river rises a little it overflows this level country and floods our nests. What we would suggest to you is that you should build a strong dam all down the river bank so as to ensure that the water cannot overflow into our nests. And as to the Cats they are always the persecutors of Mice, and we ask you to banish them altogether from your kingdom."
"Very well," replied the King, "if you can succeed in averting the danger which now threatens us, I will undertake to do all that you ask of me in this respect."
On hearing this, the King of the Mice salaamed profoundly to the King, and returned as fast as he could to his own subjects.
- ↑ Another version of the story says cakes of dried yaks' dung instead of sticks—see illustration.
