1. An old lion's wife tells him his breath smells bad, embarrassing and angering him. He calls animals to check if this is true. 2. The honest sheep tells him his breath smells, so the lion kills it. The cautious wolf flatters the lion, but is seen through and killed. 3. The fox, having seen the fates of the others, cleverly claims a cold prevents him from smelling, so the lion spares his life.