Summary
Highlights
Edgar, a poor farmer, had a diligent buffalo named Bounty, who helped him greatly improve his farm. Bounty was special; intelligent and spirited, he often roamed free during his off-time. Edgar eventually bought another buffalo to ease Bounty's workload, reflecting his care for his animal. One day, seeing Bounty struggling, Edgar decided to set him free, feeling he couldn't repay Bounty's hard work.
Bounty, though sad to leave Edgar, was excited for his new freedom. He explored the forest, enjoying the water and grass, and found a warm cave near a pond to rest. He loved his new life, unaware of the dangers of the wild, particularly Timmy the fox who had been observing him.
Timmy the fox approached Bounty, claiming to be the king of the forest and demanding Bounty's submission. Bounty, unfazed, challenged Timmy's claims, asserting that the fox wasn't the king and didn't even know the forest's true size. Timmy, insulted, vowed revenge, while Bounty realized he needed to be more cautious, especially as he was occupying a cave that likely belonged to someone else.
One night, Bounty heard movement outside his cave and realized it was the cave's true owner - a tiger. Feigning conversation with an imaginary companion, Bounty spoke loudly about needing to eat the tiger, making it sound like there were two large animals inside. The tiger, terrified, fled the scene, teaching Bounty the importance of staying calm under pressure.
Timmy encountered the frightened tiger, who recounted his terrifying experience with the 'two huge beings' in his cave. Timmy, realizing the tiger had been tricked by Bounty, revealed that it was just one buffalo. To prove his point and get revenge on Bounty, Timmy proposed they enter the cave together, tied by a rope so the tiger wouldn't abandon him. The tiger agreed, eager to reclaim his cave and confront the buffalo.
As Timmy and the tiger approached, Bounty understood their plan. He loudly pretended to scold Timmy for only bringing one tiger instead of two, suggesting that he and his 'companion' hadn't eaten since last night. The tiger, believing Bounty to be an extremely dangerous creature who ate tigers, fled in terror, dragging the tied Timmy behind him. Bounty reflected on the importance of staying calm and clever in difficult situations, a lesson the fox also learned the hard way.