He had thought a great deal about that deer , and had meant to get on his back to ride him as a horse , and go to see all the wonderful places the lion talked to him about when he was in a good temper . The more he thought of it the more sulky he grew , and in the morning , when the lion said that it was time for them to start to hunt , the cat told him that he might kill the bear and snake by himself , as HE had a headache , and would rather stay at home . The little fellow knew quite well that the lion would not dare to go out without him and his ball for fear of meeting a bear or a snake . The quarrel went on , and for many days neither of the brothers spoke to each other , and what made them still more cross was , that they could get very little to eat , and we know that people are often cross when they are hungry . At last it occurred to the lion that if he could only steal the magic ball he could kill bears and snakes for himself , and then the cat might be as sulky as he liked for anything that it would matter . But how was the stealing to be done ? The cat had the ball hung round his neck day and night , and he was such a light sleeper that it was useless to think of taking it while he slept . No ! the only thing was to get him to lend it of his own accord , and after some days the lion -LRB- who was not at all clever -RRB- hit upon a plan that he thought would do . ` Dear me , how dull it is here ! ' said the lion one afternoon , when the rain was pouring down in such torrents that , however sharp your eyes or your nose might be , you could not spy a single bird or beast among the bushes . ` Dear me , how dull , how dreadfully dull I am . Could n't we have a game of catch with that golden ball of yours ? ' ' I do n't care about playing catch , it does not amuse me , ' answered the cat , who was as cross as ever ; for no cat , even to this day , ever forgets an injury done to him . ` Well , then , lend me the ball for a little , and I will play by myself , ' replied the lion , stretching out a paw as he spoke . ` You ca n't play in the rain , and if you did , you would only lose it in the bushes , ' said the cat . ` Oh , no , I wo n't ; I will play in here . Do n't be so ill-natured . ' And with a very bad grace the cat untied the string and threw the golden ball into the lion 's lap , and composed himself to sleep again . For a long while the lion tossed it up and down gaily , feeling that , however sound asleep the boy-brother might LOOK , he was sure to have one eye open ; but gradually he began to edge closer to the opening , and at last gave such a toss that the ball went up high into the air , and he could not see what became of it .
` Oh , how stupid XXXXX me ! '
At after as by for if in of with without