6-57. Tiger in the Trap

Once upon a time there was a small village deep in the mountains. To visitors, the village looked peaceful and beautiful. However the people in the village were very afraid. They were afraid of the tigers living in the mountains.
     The people in the village went into the mountains to hunt for food. But the tigers did not like that. The tigers frightened and chased the people out.
     The village decided to hold a meeting. They wanted to get rid of the tigers in the mountains.
     "We are tired of living in fear!" shouted one man.
     "What if the tigers come to our village and eat our children?" cried a woman.
     Finally a young man stood up. "We must make a trap to catch the tigers!" he said.
     "What kind of trap?" asked another man.
     "We must dig very deep holes. The tigers will fall into them, but they will not be able to climb out," said the young man.
     Everyone cheered at the wonderful idea.
     The village worked day and night digging holes. They dug holes around the village and up the road to the mountain. At last they were done.
     One day a traveler was passing by the village. As he walked by a big hole in the ground, he heard a low roar. The traveler stopped and looked down the hole.
     At the bottom of the hole was a tiger! "Oh please, kind sir, help me!" begged the tiger. "I promise never to forget your kindness if only you will help me!" cried the tiger.
     The traveler felt sorry for the tiger. He dragged a felled tree and lowered it into the hole. The tiger climbed out of the trap.
     "Thank you for your kindness," said the tiger. "And now, I am going to eat you."
     "But why? I just saved your life!" cried the traveler.
     "Because humans made those traps to catch tigers, and you are a human," said the tiger.
     The man was very frightened, but he had an idea. "It’s not fair, Mr. Tiger, to judge one person the same as everyone else," the man said bravely. "Let’s hear what others have to say about this situation."
     The tiger agreed and the two of them set off.
     The man and the tiger went to an ox. They told him what happened.
     After listening the ox said, "Well, I have to agree with the tiger. Humans are cruel and mean. They tie us up and make us work hard all the time."
     Next they went to a pine tree. The pine tree listened to their story. Then it said, "Well, I have to agree with the tiger. Humans are unkind! They cut us down and throw us into the fire. Humans have no heart!"
     "You see? Humans are bad! Now, I’m going to eat you," the tiger said.
     The tiger was about to attack, when a rabbit came hopping by.
     "What’s going on?" the rabbit asked.
     "Oh please, Mr. Rabbit," cried the traveler. "Listen and judge our case."
     "Fine, but we must hop back to where this all started," answered the rabbit. "Where were you before this human rescued you?" the rabbit asked the tiger.
     The tiger pointed to the trap.
     "I must see exactly where you were," said the rabbit.
     So the tiger jumped into the deep hole.
     "Was this felled tree in the hole when you fell into it, Mr. Tiger?" asked the rabbit.
     "No, no. There was nothing here," answered the tiger.
     So the traveler and the rabbit pulled the tree out.
     "You were trapped in this hole, with no one to help you. Then this kind man comes along and helps you, and now you want to kill him? That is not kind, Mr. Tiger," said the rabbit. "You complain that humans are unkind, but you are not being fair. You must not judge someone you have never met."
     The tiger remained ungrateful to the man who saved his life. So the traveler and the rabbit left the tiger in the hole and walked away.