Bedtime stories - Story of Mouse Deer and a Tiger

Stories for Kids

Bedtime stories - Story of Mouse Deer and a Tiger is my second story on the adventures of Sang Kancil, the mouse deer, a Malaysian folklore. In my first story, Story of Mouse Deer and Crocodile, it tells the tale of how the mouse deer outwitted a crocodile to get to the other side of the river. You can click here to read the story as well as get background information on the mouse deer.

Mouse deer is slightly bigger than a cat. It has legs and tail that resembled a deer but with a body and face resembling a mouse.

Sang Kancil series are very popular children's stories as well as a bedtime story for Malaysian children.

Sang Kancil the Mouse Deer - Story for Kids

Once upon a time, there live this cunning mouse deer in a big forest. We shall call him Sang Kancil. He is so clever that all the other animals in the forest will come and seek help from him. He has many friends in the forest but he also has many enemies. Amongst his enemies is the tiger.

One day, while looking for food, the tiger saw Sang Kancil sleeping under his favorite tree. The tiger hasn't eaten for days and is very hungry. The sight of Sang Kancil makes him even more hungry.

How to catch Sang Kancil?

The Tiger was thinking what will be the best way to catch that sly Sang Kancil. The last time he tried, the cunning mouse deer managed to get away.

While he was thinking, Sang Kancil woke up from his sleep and was about to walk away. The Tiger quickly jumped but missed by a couple of inches. He could only grab the tip of the Sang Kancil's hoof. But that was enough to frighten Sang Kancil.

Sang Kancil will be the Tiger's lunch?

'So now that I have finally got you, you will be my lunch. I have not eaten for days and I am not going to listen to any of your funny stories' said the Tiger.

'But this time, you must listen to me.' said Sang Kancil. He was actually frightened and was trembling, and was thinking of how to get out of this situation. He had to think fast before he becomes the Tiger's lunch. Then he suddenly saw the monkey's poo that was mixed with some dried leaves, near where he was sleeping. "You see this cake, it's a special cake that belongs to the king. He ordered me to guard it and not allow any animals in the forest to take it' said Sang Kancil.

'You were sleeping, not guarding it. I can go and report this to the king. But...." the Tiger was curious and wanted to have a taste of the king's cake and was trying to force the mouse deer to let him have a bit of the cake '..if you let me try the cake, just a teeny weeny bit, I will not let the king know that you were sleeping" said the Tiger

Sang Kancil Guarding the Cake

Sang Kancil knows this may be his chance of getting away, but he had to play the game well. "Oh well, I have no choice but to let you taste it a bit. But, only if you let me walk away to the other trees. So if the king's guards happen to be passing by, while you were tasting the cake, I can tell them that I had to go to the river for a drink' said Sang Kancil.

'OK that's fine with me' said the Tiger

Sang Kancil quickly ran away, as fast as he could. The Tiger didn't bother to look at Sang Kancil because he was too excited to try the king's cake. When he finally did, he then realized that he was tricked by the cunning mouse deer again. With an angry growl, he ran after Sang Kancil. 'You little rascal, I am going to eat you now.'

Sang Kancil and the magic belt

The Tiger ran all over the forest and finally caught up with Sang Kancil. “You lousy mousy devil. You tricked me, didn't you?. I have enough of this and you will now be my lunch.” said the Tiger.

Sang Kancil with his cunning and bright idea, saw a snake sleeping nearby and decided to use this as another trick with the Tiger. He sat quietly next to the snake and told the Tiger to be quiet. "I am guarding the king's magic belt. Whoever wears it, can wish for anything in this world. That's why nobody is allowed to wear it except for the king.' claimed Sang Kancil

The daft Tiger fall for Sang Kancil's story again. He began thinking how to persuade the mouse deer to let him try it once. 'I know I have been very harsh on you. But if you let me wear this belt once, I will not disturb you any more. Pleaseee..and I will return it, I promise' pleaded the Tiger.

'I am so sorry, I will be in deep trouble if I let you wear the king's magic belt. I rather have trouble from you, than from the king!' said Sang Kancil.

The Tiger pleaded and pleaded and finally the mouse deer agreed 'But put it on only after I am gone.' said Sang Kancil.

The moment the Tiger tried wearing the 'belt', the snake woke up. The snake was surprised with the Tiger's action and thinks that the Tiger is about to eat him. He quickly wrapped himself around the tiger's neck and body and bit him hard.

The Tiger was surprised and realized that the belt is actually a snake and after a hard struggle, managed to escape. The Tiger ran through the forest screaming at the top of his voice ' I am going to kill you, you rascal..ahhhhh'

Sang Kancil and The Drum

The Tiger, although still in pain, ran looking for Sang Kancil and finally found him standing next to what he thought was a wasp's nest. 'OK, now that I have caught up with you, don't give me any more funny story about that thing' as he points his finger towards the wasp's nest. 'It is a wasp's nest' said the Tiger.

'A wasp's nest? You got to be joking. This belongs to the king. It is a drum' Sang Kancil said, calmly.

'The king's drum?. It doesn't look like one' said the Tiger. “Yes, it is and even though the king will not allow anyone to hit it, I will let you, just to convince you that it is a drum.' said the mouse deer.

'If you say so, I will try' said the Tiger. 'But let me go to that tree over there. I can't bear to hear the sound. It's too loud for me' said Sang Kancil. In actual fact the cunning mouse deer is about to make a dash before the wasps come out.

'Alright' said the stupid Tiger.

The moment the Tiger hit the 'drum', the wasp came buzzing out and start to bite the Tiger. 'Ouch, ouch..ouch. Ohhh I have been tricked again' moaned the Tiger. The Tiger ran but the wasps continue to chase him. He finally came to the nearest river and jumped in. He stayed underwater for what seems like a long long time. When he finally emerged from the river, the wasp had gone. But by then Sang Kancil is already far away and never to be seen.

That's the end of 'Bedtime stories - Story of Mouse Deer and a Tiger'. Another tale of how the cunning mouse deer, Sang Kancil, outwitted and fooled the ferocious Tiger. Another good bedtime story for kids.

If you have not read my other children's story on Sang Kancil, 'Story of Mouse Deer and Crocodile', you can click here to read it.

Thanks for reading these children's stories, to your kids

• Stories for Kids - Story of Mouse Deer and Crocodile

How Mouse Deer outwitted the crocodile, in order to cross the river

• Story of Mouse Deer and Farmer - A Children's Story

Mouse Deer tricked the farmer, after being caught eating the vegetables.

• Chinese Zodiac Story - A Bedtime Story

How the Chinese Lunar Year was named after the twelve animals