The Midnight Call

The villagers were asleep. All was quiet. Ever since a man-eating cheetah had dragged away two people one after another in a fortnight, the villagers kept indoors as soon as darkness fell.

At midnight, a loud shout pierced the silence: “A thief! A thief!” The voice belonged to Rangu, a village lad beloved by everyone.

The villagers emerged, armed with sticks and makeshift weapons. They did not find any thief but encountered the cheetah and managed to kill it.

“Where did you see the thief?” someone asked Rangu after the commotion had settled.

“I did not see any thief!” replied Rangu. “Then what happened?”

“I saw the cheetah. But if I had shouted ‘Cheetah, cheetah,’ would any of you have come out? You would have even shut your windows if they were open!” explained Rangu.