Seventeen years among the Sea Dyaks of Borneo; a ... - Sabrizain.org

DYAK FOLKLORE 251)
Just then the others returned from their fishing. Great
was their joy to find their enemy securely bound. With
cries of triumph they fell upon the Giant and killed
him, and praised the Mouse-Deer for his cleverness in
securing him.
The Story of the Mouse-Deer, the Deer and
the Pig.
A Mouse-Deer wandering in the jungle fell into a pit.
He could not get out, so he waited patiently for some
passer-by. Presently a Pig passed by the mouth of the
pit. The Mouse-Deer called out to him, and he looked
in and asked the Mouse-Deer what he was doing
there.
'
Don't you know what is going to ? happen The sky
is going to fall down, and everybody will be crushed to
dust unless he takes shelter in a pit.
If you want to save
your life you had better jump in."
The Pig jumped into the pit, and the Mouse-Deer got
on his back, but he found he was not high enough to
enable him to leap out.
Next a Deer came along, and, seeing the two animals
in the pit, asked them what they were doing there.
"
The Mouse-Deer : replied The sky is going to fall,
and everyone will be crushed unless he hides in some
hole. Jump in if you want to save your life.'"
The Deer sprang in, and the Mouse-Deer made him
stand on the back of the Pig ;
then he himself got on the
back of the Deer and jumped out of the pit, leaving the
other two to their fate.
The Deer and the Pig were very angry at being tricked
in this way by such a small animal as the Mouse-Deer.