12
12THE COUNTRY LEOPARD
(Athena continues the next day)
“Soon after, the animals came back to the place where they had left Pogaiyan, the panther, lying in a sorry state that had provoked all. They were now relieved to find him in much better health and they gathered round to tell him of their exploits of the night, which turned out to be a magic pick-me-up, for the panther’s spirits rose swiftly, indeed, to such an extent that he even turned to accuse them of not allowing him to join the party (which we know was unfair)! He still was not entirely his own for even now he lurched a bit as he stood. Pogaiyan now still groggy, extremely thirsty and hungry, was eager for the forest to return to its natural state, so that he could hunt.
Later refreshed and almost his normal self, he set ou
