The Tiger - the Cat's Defender

On the outskirts of the village, a peasant was plowing the land. From the house, along with the draft animals, a cat came running, and in the midst of the plowing, it chased butterflies and grasshoppers at the edge of the forest.

At that time, a tiger was running through the forest. The tiger was very surprised to see the cat and asked:

"Brother, you seem to be from our kind, but why are you so small?"

The cunning cat pretended to be a sufferer and replied:

"Ah, great lord, king of beasts, if only you knew how hard it is for us to live among humans."

"Who dares to oppress you? Show me that person, and I will deal with him," said the tiger.

The cat led the tiger to the peasant, who was walking behind the plow.

The tiger said:

"Hey, human, why do you oppress my kin so much that he can't even grow? What has he done to you? I will fight you for his sake."

"Very well," replied the peasant, "but I left my strength at home. Let me run and fetch it, and then we shall fight."

"Alright," said the tiger, "go, I'll wait for you."

"But what if you deceive me and run away somewhere? I would be running for nothing!" said the peasant. "Here's what: let me tie you with a rope to this tree while I run to the village. I'll bring my strength, and then we'll measure our power."

"Alright," agreed the tiger.

The peasant tied the tiger to the tree with a thick rope, went into the forest, cut a strong ash club, returned, and said:

"Here is my strength!" And he began to beat the tiger. The tiger roared, and heaven and earth burned with pity for him, but the man did not stop until he had beaten the tiger's sides black and blue. Then he untied the tiger and said:

"Don't meddle in what's not your business! Go now, and wherever you decide to boast about yourself, don't forget to mention me!"

The tiger, barely alive, limped away. Seeing the cat, he sighed heavily and groaned:

"Well done, brother, for growing to such a size under the rule of such a beast."

More fairy tales

• Dauta and Petrikela
• The Thumb-Sized Man
• The Master and the Apprentice
• The Old Man Guest
• The Son of the Raven