A POODLE ON SAFARI

A WEALTHY OLD LADY

DECIDES TO GO ON A SAFARI IN AFRICA,

TAKING HER POODLE ALONG FOR COMPANY.

ONE DAY THE POODLE STARTS CHASING

BUTTERFLIES AND BEFORE LONG,

DISCOVERS THAT HE'S LOST.

WANDERING ABOUT,

HE NOTICES A HUNGRY-LOOKING LEOPARD

HEADING RAPIDLY IN HIS DIRECTION.

THE POODLE THINKS,

"UH, OH!" NOTICING SOME BONES

ON THE GROUND CLOSE BY,

HE IMMEDIATELY SETTLES DOWN

TO CHEW ON THE BONES WITH HIS BACK

TO THE APPROACHING CAT.

JUST AS THE LEOPARD IS ABOUT TO LEAP,

THE POODLE EXCLAIMS LOUDLY,

"BOY, THAT WAS ONE DELICIOUS LEOPARD!

I WONDER IF THERE ARE ANY MORE AROUND HERE?"

HEARING THIS, THE LEOPARD HALTS

HIS ATTACK IN MID-STRIKE,

A LOOK OF TERROR COMES OVER HIM

AND HE SLINKS AWAY INTO THE TREES.

"WHEW!" SAYS THE LEOPARD.

"THAT WAS CLOSE!

THAT POODLE NEARLY HAD ME!"

MEANWHILE, A MONKEY WHO

HAD BEEN WATCHING THE WHOLE SCENE

FROM A NEARBY TREE,

FIGURES HE CAN PUT THIS KNOWLEDGE

TO GOOD USE AND TRADE IT FOR

PROTECTION FROM THE LEOPARD.

SO OFF HE GOES,

BUT THE POODLE SEES HIM HEADING

AFTER THE LEOPARD WITH GREAT SPEED

AND FIGURES THAT SOMETHING MUST BE UP.

THE MONKEY SOON CATCHES UP WITH THE LEOPARD,

SPILLS THE BEANS AND STRIKES A DEAL

FOR HIMSELF WITH THE LEOPARD.

THE LEOPARD IS FURIOUS AT

BEING MADE A FOOL OF AND SAYS,

"HERE, MONKEY, HOP ON MY BACK

SO YOU CAN WATCH ME CHEW

THAT POODLE TO BITS!"

NOW, THE POODLE SEES THE

LEOPARD COMING WITH THE MONKEY

ON HIS BACK AND THINKS,

"WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW?"

BUT INSTEAD OF RUNNING,

THE DOG SITS DOWN WITH HIS BACK

TO HIS ATTACKERS, PRETENDING

HE HASN'T SEEN THEM YET

AND WAITS UNTIL THEY GET

JUST CLOSE ENOUGH TO HEAR.

"WHERE'S THAT DAMN MONKEY?"

THE POODLE SAYS.

"I SENT HIM OFF AN HOUR AGO

TO BRING ME ANOTHER LEOPARD!"