A young man from the town desiring to bag a wild fowl or a hare, entered forest, riding a horse. He had dressed well as a hunter and had his bow painted in glittering colors. A wood-cutter who saw him was quite impressed by his appearance and his horse. "Hunter, sir, a moment ago I saw a large lion going this way!"
"Is that so? Which way?" asked the young man gravely. The question impressed the wood-cutter so much that he not only showed him the way but also followed him. He had never met a lion-hunter in life. Next they met a few villagers. They were small hunters. The two wood-cutters confided to man's mission. They forgot their own business and joined the two wood-cutters in following the brave rider.
The young man trotted on silently, but feeling quite proud that he had become an object of wonder and admiration for so many. They went quite a long way when they met another wood-cutter. "Have you seen a lion going this way?" asked the young man, pulling the rein. "Of course I have! It has just entered that cave!" said the wood-cutter showing a cave that was a few yards away.
The little crowd felt quite tense. Their eyes were glued to the rider. Now is the moment to watch him act! But the rider turned his horse back at once. "I just wanted to see the way the lion took. I never wanted to see the lion!" he said and galloped away as fast as he could.
- A Folk tale from Greece
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