"Porcupine was playing on his harp, singing, "Jicky-jick... And one day when I am king of all the animals, lion will have to carry the ashes away from my camp, and elephant will have to bring me tambootie grass. Jicky-jick... Jicky... Jick... One day when I am king of all the animals, warthog will have to dig roots for me, and antbear will have to kill the ticks with his thick tail."

Tiger was delighted to hear that lion, who always robbed him of his food, would have to carry ashes. And he said to porcupine: "My Brother, you and I have black and white spots. We must always walk together. We must always be friends. I shall be your watchdog, and will see that lion does not leave ashes in your fire-place."

When Xau heard them talk of a watchdog, an idea occurred to him. And he hurried to Tiger with his idea. He gladdened tiger's heart with these lying words: "Man-of-whose-teeth-lion-is-afraid, you are king of all the animals. I am king of the people. Let us walk the same road. Then our wives will not be angry when we visit our friends. When I go to my beloved in the grass seeds, you must keep watch. And when it is your turn I will watch."

But Rain, the woman of heaven, who can see into everyone's heart, saw how Xau wanted to cheat his wife. She was very angry that the daughters of the earth should be cheated in this way, and sent Winterwind to kill all the grass.

Wherever Xau and Tiger went they found the tracks of gemsbuck in search of new pastures. And they searched and searched. Then Tiger's feet started hurting him and he said to Xau: "The places you visit are too far away. My feet hurt. Look, they are bleeding. Porcupine never asked me to walk as far as you do. I want to go back to the king who sings."

But Xau entreated: "Just over this one dune, and another one, and then one more after that." Then Rain, the woman of heaven commanded Winterwind, saying: "Throw frost into the hollows, so that Tiger's feet will crack."

And Winterwind, who had no sympathy with the menfolk, pulled a heavy white blanket over the hollows through which Xau and Tiger had to walk. But Xau was a man of many plans. And he carried Tiger across the first white hollow. Then Rain said to Winterwind: "Push them from the front." Winterwind did so and she threw them over backwards. Tiger who cushioned Xau's back and head, struck the ground first. His back was broken.

Xau gazed at him, then looked again and said: "You good-for-nothing, you with your back make of grass, why didn't you stay with your harp-playing king?"
Tiger's throat constricted when he saw that Xau was walking away from him through the white hollows.

Alone in the veld, with a broken back, he knew he would soon be a meal for Wolf. Then Tiger wept bitterly. And Winterwind took up his cry and carried it to the listening ears of many wolves...