- A very long time ago, chickens were wild. They lived in the bush just like other birds and animals. Mr. Cock was the proudest of all. All the other birds and animals were afraid of Mr. Cock because he said that his comb was made of fire. Any animal who did not obey him might have been burnt.
- One evening, Mother Leopard came home late. She wanted to cook some food for her children. When she went to the kitchen, she found that the fire had gone out. She sent her children to the chicken house. She wanted them to ask the cock for some fire from his comb. She told them to go without a moment’s delay because she wanted to cook their food before six o’clock. Her children were afraid to go to the chicken house. They were afraid of Mr. Cock. If they ever made him angry, they might be burnt. But their mother had told them what to do. They had to obey her.
- When they reached the chicken house, all the chickens were asleep. Even Mr. Cock was asleep. The leopard children didn’t know what to do. They didn’t know how to get the fire. They decided to go back home and tell their mother what had happened.
- When Mother Leopard heard this story, she gathered some of the dry grass that was near the house. She went back to the chicken house with her children. She wanted to steal some fire from Mr. Cock’s comb. Mr. Cock was asleep when Mother Leopard arrived. Mother Leopard quietly put the dry grass very near Mr. Cock’s comb. She thought the grass would catch fire. But it wouldn’t burn. Was his comb really made of fire? Mother Leopard decided to find out. She touched his comb. Then her children also touched his comb. It was very cold. They knew that Mr. Cock could not burn them. All the leopard family began to laugh. The chickens awoke and so did Mr. Cock. He started to shout at them. He turned his comb towards them. He said, “You should run away. Aren’t you afraid?
- Mother Leopard said, “We’ve touched your comb and we know about your trick! We aren’t afraid of your trick now. We’ll go back and call all the other animals. We’ll tell them about your trick and you’ll be killed.”
- The chickens were afraid. Mr. Cock and all the other chickens ran away. They went to the house of a man and asked him for help and food. Since that time, chickens have lived with people. Whenever they see a leopard, they run away.
Adapted from ‘The nike English Course