McGraw©Hill/

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The Tiger Who Would Be King p. 54/

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One mornig the tiger woke up in the jungle and told his matethat he was king of the beasts

"Leo, the lion, is king of the beasts," she said.

"We need a change," said the tiger. "The creatures arecrying for a change."

The tigress listened and could hear no crying except that ofher cubs.

"I'll be king of the beasts by the time the moon rises,"said the tiger. "It will be a yellow moon with black stripes, inmy honor."

"Oh sure," said the tigress as she went to look after heryoung, one of whom, a male, very like his father, had got animaginary thorn in his paw.

The tiger prowled through the jungle till he came to thelion's den. "Come out," he roared, "and greet the king ofbeasts! The king is dead, long live the king!"

Inside the den the lioness woke her mate. "The king is hereto see you," she said.

"What king?" he inquired sleepily.

"The king of beasts," she said.

"I am king of beasts," roared Leo, and he charged out of theden to defend his crown against the pretender.

It was a terrible fight, and it lasted until the setting ofthe sun. All the animals of the jungle joined in, some takingthe side of the tiger and others the side of the lion. Everycreature from the aardvark to the zebra took part in the struggleto overthrow the lion or repulse the tiger,