A little goat was grazing at the foot of the hills when he wandered away from the herd. Nose down in the grass, he never noticed how deep into the forest he had gone. Evening was coming down. "Where's Ma? Where did everyone go?"
Suddenly a huge tiger stepped out from behind a bush! Striped coat, blazing eyes. He licked his lips. "Well, well — a little goat. And today my dinner has walked right up to me on its own. Now, where do you think you'll run?"
The little goat's heart went thump, thump, thump. Every part of him wanted to bolt — Run! But he knew better: turn his back, and the tiger would be on him in a heartbeat. So what could he do?
The goat took one big breath. He pushed his fear down deep and tipped his two little horns forward. Then a step toward the tiger. And another. Walking right up to him! And in the calmest voice he could find: "Do you know whose horns are the strongest in this whole forest?"
The tiger stopped short. What kind of creature was this? It hadn't run from him — it was coming closer? "S-stop right there!" he stammered. "Don't you come near me with those horns!" And bit by bit, the tiger began to back away.
The goat took one more step — stamp! And that did it. The tiger's courage ran right out of him. "Yaah!" he yelped, and sprang away in one great leap. Crashing through the bushes, the mighty king of the forest fled.
The moon climbed up between the trees. Chest puffed out with pride, the little goat trotted back to find his herd. His mother pulled him close. "There's my brave one! Weren't you even a little bit frightened?" The little goat only smiled.