A man hired an ass from another man. He paid him two shillings to lend him the ass for the day.

It was a very hot day, and both men wanted to stand in the ass's shadow, so that they might be cool. But there was only room for one of them.

"Go away," said the man who had hired the ass. "Go away! It is my shadow today. I have hired the ass."

" You hired the ass," said the owner," but you did not hire his shadow. It is my shadow."

They went on, the hirer saying one thing and the owner saying the other. Then they began to fight, and while they were fighting one of them happened to hit the ass. Then the ass ran away. And it took its shadow with it !