'Butashewasthere,itisapityhecouldnothavebroughtawaythegoldencloak,'addedthey。
'Thegoldencloak！whatisthat？'askedtheking。Andtheyoungmendescribeditsbeautiesinsuchglowingwordsthatthekingdeclaredheshouldneverknowaday'shappinesstillhehadwrappedthecloakroundhisownshoulders。
'And,'addedhe,'themanwhobringsittomeshallwedmydaughter,andshallinheritmythrone。'
'NonecangetitsavePinkel,'saidthey;fortheydidnotimaginethatthewitch,aftertwowarnings,couldallowtheirbrothertoescapeathirdtime。SoPinkelwassentfor,andwithagladhearthesetout。
Hepassedmanyhoursinventingfirstoneplanandthenanother,tillhehadaschemereadywhichhethoughtmightprovesuccessful。
Thrustingalargebaginsidehiscoat,hepushedofffromtheshore,takingcarethistimetoreachtheislandindaylight。Havingmadehisboatfasttoatree,hewalkeduptothehut,hanginghishead,andputtingonafacethatwasbothsorrowfulandashamed。
'Isthatyou,Pinkel？'askedthewitchwhenshesawhim,hereyesgleamingsavagely。
'Yes,dearmother,itisI,'answeredPinkel。
'Soyouhavedared,afterallyouhavedone,toputyourselfinmypower！'criedshe。'Well,yousha'n'tescapemeTHIStime！'Andshetookdownalargeknifeandbegantosharpenit。'
'Oh！dearmother,spareme！'shriekedPinkel,fallingonhisknees,andlookingwildlyabouthim。
'Spareyou,indeed,youthief！Wherearemylanternandmygoat？No！
not！thereisonlyonefateforrobbers！'Andshebrandishedtheknifeintheairsothatitglitteredinthefirelight。
'Then,ifImustdie,'saidPinkel,who,bythistime,wasgettingreallyratherfrightened,'letmeatleastchoosethemannerofmydeath。Iamveryhungry,forIhavehadnothingtoeatallday。Putsomepoison,ifyoulike,intotheporridge,butatleastletmehaveagoodmealbeforeIdie。'
'Thatisnotabadidea,'answeredthewoman;'aslongasyoudodie,itisallonetome。'Andladlingoutalargebowlofporridge,shestirredsomepoisonousherbsintoit,andsetaboutworkthathadtobedone。ThenPinkelhastilypouredallthecontentsofthebowlintohisbag,andmakeagreatnoisewithhisspoon,asifhewasscrapingupthelastmorsel。
'Poisonedornot,theporridgeisexcellent。Ihaveeatenit,everyscrap;dogivemesomemore,'saidPinkel,turningtowardsher。
'Well,youhaveafineappetite,youngman,'answeredthewitch;
'however,itisthelasttimeyouwillevereatit,soIwillgiveyouanotherbowlful。'Andrubbinginthepoisonousherbs,shepouredhimouthalfofwhatremained,andthenwenttothewindowtocallhercat。
InaninstantPinkelagainemptiedtheporridgeintothebag,andthenextminuteherolledonthefloor,twistinghimselfaboutasifinagony,utteringloudgroansthewhile。Suddenlyhegrewsilentandlaystill。
'Ah！Ithoughtaseconddoseofthatpoisonwouldbetoomuchforyou,'
saidthewitchlookingathim。'Iwarnedyouwhatwouldhappenifyoucameback。Iwishthatallthieveswereasdeadasyou！ButwhydoesnotmylazygirlbringthewoodIsentherfor,itwillsoonbetoodarkforhertofindherway？IsupposeImustgoandsearchforher。
Whatatroublegirlsare！'Andshewenttothedoortowatchiftherewereanysignsofherdaughter。Butnothingcouldbeseenofher,andheavyrainwasfalling。
'Itisnonightformycloak,'shemuttered;'itwouldbecoveredwithmudbythetimeIgotback。'Soshetookitoffhershouldersandhungitcarefullyupinacupboardintheroom。Afterthatsheputonherclogsandstartedtoseekherdaughter。Directlythelastsoundoftheclogshadceased,Pinkeljumpedupandtookdownthecloak,androwedoffasfastashecould。
Hehadnotgonefarwhenapuffofwindunfoldedthecloak,anditsbrightnessshedgleamsacrossthewater。Thewitch,whowasjustenteringtheforest,turnedroundatthatmomentandsawthegoldenrays。Sheforgotallaboutherdaughter,andrandowntotheshore,screamingwithrageatbeingoutwittedathirdtime。
'Isthatyou,Pinkel？'criedshe。
'Yes,dearmother,itisI。'
'Haveyoutakenmygoldcloak？'
'Yes,dearmother,Ihave。'
'Areyounotagreatknave？'
'Yes,trulydearmother,Iam。'
Andsoindeedhewas！
But,allthesame,hecarriedthecloaktotheking'spalace,andinreturnhereceivedthehandoftheking'sdaughterinmarriage。Peoplesaidthatitwasthebridewhooughttohavewornthecloakatherweddingfeast;butthekingwassopleasedwithitthathewouldnotpartfromit;andtotheendofhislifewasneverseenwithoutit。
Afterhisdeath,Pinkelbecameking;andletuphopethathegaveuphisbadandthievishways,andruledhissubjectswell。Asforhisbrothers,hedidnotpunishthem,butlefttheminthestables,wheretheygrumbledalldaylong。
[Thorpe'sYule—TideStories。]
TheAdventuresofaJackalInacountrywhichisfullofwildbeastsofallsortsthereoncelivedajackalandahedgehog,and,unlikethoughtheywere,thetwoanimalsmadegreatfriends,andwereoftenseenineachother'scompany。
Oneafternoontheywerewalkingalongaroadtogether,whenthejackal,whowasthetallerofthetwo,exclaimed:
'Oh！thereisabarnfullofcorn;letusgoandeatsome。'
'Yes,doletus！'answeredthehedgehog。Sotheywenttothebarn,andatetilltheycouldeatnomore。Thenthejackalputonhisshoes,whichhehadtakenoffsoastomakenonoise,andtheyreturnedtothehighroad。
Aftertheyhadgonesomewaytheymetapanther,whostopped,andbowingpolitely,said:
'Excusemyspeakingtoyou,butIcannothelpadmiringthoseshoesofyours。Doyoumindtellingmewhomadethem？'
'Yes,Ithinktheyarerathernice,'answeredthejackal;'Imadethemmyself,though。'
'Couldyoumakemeapairlikethem？'askedthepanthereagerly。
'Iwoulddomybest,ofcourse,'repliedthejackal;'butyoumustkillmeacow,andwhenwehaveeatenthefleshIwilltaketheskinandmakeyourshoesoutofit。'
Sothepantherprowledaboutuntilhesawafinecowgrazingapartfromtherestoftheherd。Hekilleditinstantly,andthengaveacrytothejackalandhedgehogtocometotheplacewherehewas。Theysoonskinnedthedeadbeasts,andspreaditsskinouttodry,afterwhichtheyhadagrandfeastbeforetheycurledthemselvesupforthenight,andsleptsoundly。
Nextmorningthejackalgotupearlyandsettoworkupontheshoes,whilethepanthersatbyandlookedonwithdelight。Atlasttheywerefinished,andthejackalaroseandstretchedhimself。
'Nowgoandlaytheminthesunoutthere,'saidhe;'inacoupleofhourstheywillbereadytoputon;butdonotattempttowearthembefore,oryouwillfeelthemmostuncomfortable。ButIseethesunishighintheheavens,andwemustbecontinuingourjourney。'
Thepanther,whoalwaysbelievedwhateverybodytoldhim,didexactlyashewasbid,andintwohours'timebegantofastenontheshoes。
Theycertainlysetoffhispawswonderfully,andhestretchedouthisforepawsandlookedatthemwithpride。Butwhenhetriedtowalk——ah！
thatwasanotherstory！Theyweresostiffandhardthathenearlyshriekedeverystephetook,andatlasthesankdownwherehewas,andactuallybegantocry。
Aftersometimesomelittlepartridgeswhowerehoppingaboutheardthepoorpanther'sgroans,andwentuptoseewhatwasthematter。Hehadnevertriedtomakehisdinneroffthem,andtheyhadalwaysbeenquitefriendly。
'Youseeminpain,'saidoneofthem,flutteringclosetohim,'canwehelpyou？'
'Oh,itisthejackal！Hemademetheseshoes;theyaresohardandtightthattheyhurtmyfeet,andIcannotmanagetokickthemoff。'
'Liestill,andwewillsoftenthem,'answeredthekindlittlepartridge。Andcallingtohisbrothers,theyallflewtothenearestspring,andcarriedwaterintheirbeaks,whichtheypouredovertheshoes。Thistheydidtillthehardleathergrewsoft,andthepantherwasabletosliphisfeetoutofthem。
'Oh,thankyou,thankyou,'hecried,skippingroundwithjoy。'Ifeeladifferentcreature。NowIwillgoafterthejackalandpayhimmydebts。'Andheboundedawayintotheforest。
Butthejackalhadbeenverycunning,andhadtrottedbackwardsandforwardsandinandout,sothatitwasverydifficulttoknowwhichtrackhehadreallyfollowed。Atlength,however,thepanthercaughtsightofhisenemy,atthesamemomentthatthejackalhadcaughtsightofhim。Thepanthergavealoudroar,andsprangforward,butthejackalwastooquickforhimandplungedintoadensethicket,wherethepanthercouldnotfollow。
Disgustedwithhisfailure,butmoreangrythanever,thepantherlaydownforawhiletoconsiderwhatheshoulddonext,andashewasthinking,anoldmancameby。
'Oh！father,tellmehowIcanrepaythejackalforthewayhehasservedme！'Andwithoutmoreadohetoldhisstory。
'Ifyoutakemyadvice,'answeredtheoldman,'youwillkillacow,andinviteallthejackalsintheforesttothefeast。Watchthemcarefullywhiletheyareeating,andyouwillseethatmostofthemkeeptheireyesontheirfood。Butifoneofthemglancesatyou,youwillknowthatisthetraitor。'
Thepanther,whosemannerswerealwaysgood,thankedtheoldman,andfollowedhiscounsel。Thecowwaskilled,andthepartridgesflewaboutwithinvitationstothejackals,whogatheredinlargenumberstothefeast。Thewickedjackalcameamongstthem;butasthepantherhadonlyseenhimoncehecouldnotdistinguishhimfromtherest。
However,theyalltooktheirplacesonwoodenseatsplacedroundthedeadcow,whichwaslaidacrosstheboughsofafallentree,andbegantheirdinner,eachjackalfixinghiseyesgreedilyonthepieceofmeatbeforehim。Onlyoneofthemseemeduneasy,andeverynowandthenglancedinthedirectionofhishost。Thisthepanthernoticed,andsuddenlymadeaboundattheculpritandseizedhistail;butagainthejackalwastooquickforhim,andcatchingupaknifehecutoffhistailanddartedintotheforest,followedbyalltherestoftheparty。
Andbeforethepantherhadrecoveredfromhissurprisehefoundhimselfalone。
'WhatamItodonow？'heaskedtheoldman,whosooncamebacktoseehowthingshadturnedout。
'Itisveryunfortunate,certainly,'answeredhe;'butIthinkIknowwhereyoucanfindhim。Thereisamelongardenabouttwomilesfromhere,andasjackalsareveryfondofmelonstheyarenearlysuretohavegonetheretofeed。Ifyouseeataillessjackalyouwillknowthatheistheoneyouwant。'Sothepantherthankedhimandwenthisway。
Nowthejackalhadguessedwhatadvicetheoldmanwouldgivehisenemy,andso,whilehisfriendsweregreedilyeatingtheripestmelonsinthesunniestcornerofthegarden,hestolebehindthemandtiedtheirtailstogether。Hehadonlyjustfinishedwhenhisearscaughtthesoundofbreakingbranches;andhecried:'Quick！quick！herecomesthemasterofthegarden！'Andthejackalssprangupandranawayinalldirections,leavingtheirtailsbehindthem。Andhowwasthepanthertoknowwhichwashisenemy？
'Theynoneofthemhadanytails,'hesaidsadlytotheoldman,'andI
amtiredofhuntingthem。Ishallleavethemaloneandgoandcatchsomethingforsupper。'
Ofcoursethehedgehoghadnotbeenabletotakepartinanyoftheseadventures;butassoonasalldangerwasover,thejackalwenttolookforhisfriend,whomhewasluckyenoughtofindathome。
'Ah,thereyouare,'hesaidgaily。'IhavelostmytailsinceIsawyoulast。Andotherpeoplehavelosttheirstoo;butthatisnomatter！Iamhungry,socomewithmetotheshepherdwhoissittingoverthere,andwewillaskhimtosellusoneofhissheep。'
'Yes,thatisagoodplan,'answeredthehedgehog。Andhewalkedasfastashislittlelegswouldgotokeepupwiththejackal。Whentheyreachedtheshepherdthejackalpulledouthispursefromunderhisforeleg,andmadehisbargain。
'Onlywaittillto—morrow,'saidtheshepherd,'andIwillgiveyouthebiggestsheepyoueversaw。Buthealwaysfeedsatsomedistancefromtherestoftheflock,anditwouldtakemealongtimetocatchhim。'
'Well,itisverytiresome,butIsupposeImustwait,'repliedthejackal。Andheandthehedgehoglookedaboutforanicedrycaveinwhichtomakethemselvescomfortableforthenight。But,aftertheyhadgone,theshepherdkilledoneofhissheep,andstrippedoffhisskin,whichhesewedtightlyroundagreyhoundhehadwithhim,andputacordrounditsneck。Thenhelaydownandwenttosleep。
Very,veryearly,beforethesunwasproperlyup,thejackalandthehedgehogwerepullingattheshepherd'scloak。
'Wakeup,'theysaid,'andgiveusthatsheep。Wehavehadnothingtoeatallnight,andareveryhungry。'
Theshepherdyawnedandrubbedhiseyes。'Heistieduptothattree;
goandtakehim。'Sotheywenttothetreeandunfastenedthecord,andturnedtogobacktothecavewheretheyhadslept,draggingthegreyhoundafterthem。Whentheyreachedthecavethejackalsaidtothehedgehog。
'BeforeIkillhimletmeseewhetherheisfatorthin。'Andhestoodalittlewayback,sothathemightthebetterexaminetheanimal。
Afterlookingathim,withhisheadononeside,foraminuteortwo,henoddedgravely。
'Heisquitefatenough;heisagoodsheep。'
Butthehedgehog,whosometimesshowedmorecunningthananyonewouldhaveguessed,answered:
'Myfriend,youaretalkingnonsense。Thewoolisindeedasheep'swool,butthepawsofmyunclethegreyhoundpeepoutfromunderneath。'
'Heisasheep,'repeatedthejackal,whodidnotliketothinkanyoneclevererthanhimself。
'HoldthecordwhileIlookathim,'answeredthehedgehog。
Veryunwillinglythejackalheldtherope,whilethehedgehogwalkedslowlyroundthegreyhoundtillhereachedthejackalagain。Heknewquitewellbythepawsandtailthatitwasagreyhoundandnotasheep,thattheshepherdhadsoldthem;andashecouldnottellwhatturnaffairsmighttake,heresolvedtogetoutoftheway。
'Oh！yes,youareright,'hesaidtothejackal;'butInevercaneattillIhavefirstdrunk。Iwilljustgoandquenchmythirstfromthatspringattheedgeofthewood,andthenIshallbereadyforbreakfast。'
'Don'tbelong,then,'calledthejackal,asthehedgehoghurriedoffathisbestpace。Andhelaydownunderarocktowaitforhim。
Morethananhourpassedbyandthehedgehoghadhadplentyoftimetogotothespringandback,andstilltherewasnosignofhim。Andthiswasverynatural,ashehadhiddenhimselfinsomelonggrassunderatree！
Atlengththejackalguessedthatforsomereasonhisfriendhadrunaway,anddeterminedtowaitforhisbreakfastnolonger。Sohewentuptotheplacewherethegreyhoundhadbeentetheredanduntiedtherope。Butjustashewasabouttospringonhisbackandgivehimadeadlybite,thejackalheardalowgrowl,whichneverproceededfromthethroatofanysheep。Likeaflashoflightningthejackalthrewdownthecordandwasflyingacrosstheplain;butthoughhislegswerelong,thegreyhound'slegswerelongerstill,andhesooncameupwithhisprey。Thejackalturnedtofight,buthewasnomatchforthegreyhound,andinafewminuteshewaslyingdeadontheground,whilethegreyhoundwastrottingpeacefullybacktotheshepherd。
[NouveauxContesBerberes,parReneBasset。]
TheAdventuresoftheJackal'sEldestSonNow,thoughthejackalwasdead,hehadlefttwosonsbehindhim,everywhitascunningandtrickyastheirfather。Theelderofthetwowasafinehandsomecreature,whohadapleasantmannerandmademanyfriends。Theanimalhesawmostofwasahyena;andoneday,whentheyweretakingawalktogether,theypickedupabeautifulgreencloak,whichhadevidentlybeendroppedbysomeoneridingacrosstheplainonacamel。Ofcourseeachwantedtohaveit,andtheyalmostquarrelledoverthematter;butatlengthitwassettledthatthehyenashouldwearthecloakbydayandthejackalbynight。Afteralittlewhile,however,thejackalbecamediscontentedwiththisarrangement,declaringthatnoneofhisfriends,whowerequitedifferentfromthoseofthehyena,couldseethesplendourofthemantle,andthatitwasonlyfairthatheshouldsometimesbeallowedtowearitbyday。Tothisthehyenawouldbynomeansconsent,andtheywereontheeveofaquarrelwhenthehyenaproposedthattheyshouldasktheliontojudgebetweenthem。Thejackalagreedtothis,andthehyenawrappedthecloakabouthim,andtheybothtrottedofftothelion'sden。
Thejackal,whowasfondoftalking,atoncetoldthestory;andwhenitwasfinishedthelionturnedtothehyenaandaskedifitwastrue。
'Quitetrue,yourmajesty,'answeredthehyena。
'Thenlaythecloakonthegroundatmyfeet,'saidthelion,'andI
willgivemyjudgment。'Sothemantlewasspreadupontheredearth,thehyenaandthejackalstandingoneachsideofit。
Therewassilenceforafewmoments,andthenthelionsatup,lookingverygreatandwise。
'Myjudgmentisthatthegarmentshallbelongwhollytowhoeverfirstringsthebellofthenearestmosqueatdawnto—morrow。Nowgo;formuchbusinessawaitsme！'
Allthatnightthehyenasatup,fearinglestthejackalshouldreachthebellbeforehim,forthemosquewascloseathand。Withthefirststreakofdawnheboundedawaytothebell,justasthejackal,whohadsleptsoundlyallnight,wasrisingtohisfeet。
'Goodlucktoyou,'criedthejackal。Andthrowingthecloakoverhisbackhedartedawayacrosstheplain,andwasseennomorebyhisfriendthehyena。
Afterrunningseveralmilesthejackalthoughthewassafefrompursuit,andseeingalionandanotherhyenatalkingtogether,hestrolleduptojointhem。
'Goodmorning,'hesaid;'mayIaskwhatisthematter？Youseemveryseriousaboutsomething。'
'Praysitdown,'answeredthelion。'Wewerewonderinginwhichdirectionweshouldgotofindthebestdinner。Thehyenawishestogototheforest,andItothemountains。Whatdoyousay？'
'Well,asIwassaunteringovertheplain,justnow,Inoticedaflockofsheepgrazing,andsomeofthemhadwanderedintoalittlevalleyquiteoutofsightoftheshepherd。Ifyoukeepamongtherocksyouwillneverbeobserved。Butperhapsyouwillallowmetogowithyouandshowyoutheway？'
'Youarereallyverykind,'answeredthelion。Andtheycreptsteadilyalongtillatlengththeyreachedthemouthofthevalleywherearam,asheepandalambwerefeedingontherichgrass,unconsciousoftheirdanger。
'Howshallwedividethem？'askedthelioninawhispertothehyena。
'Oh,itiseasilydone,'repliedthehyena。'Thelambforme,thesheepforthejackal,andtheramforthelion。'
'SoIamtohavethatleancreature,whichisnothingbuthorns,amI？'
criedthelioninarage。'Iwillteachyoutodividethingsinthatmanner！'Andhegavethehyenatwogreatblows,whichstretchedhimdeadinamoment。Thenheturnedtothejackalandsaid:'Howwouldyoudividethem？'
'Quitedifferentlyfromthehyena,'repliedthejackal。'Youwillbreakfastoffthelamb,youwilldineoffthesheep,andyouwillsupofftheram。'
'Dearme,howcleveryouare！Whotaughtyousuchwisdom？'exclaimedthelion,lookingathimadmiringly。
'Thefateofthehyena,'answeredthejackal,laughing,andrunningoffathisbestspeed;forhesawtwomenarmedwithspearscomingclosebehindthelion！
Thejackalcontinuedtoruntillatlasthecouldrunnolonger。Heflunghimselfunderatreepantingforbreath,whenheheardarustleamongstthegrass,andhisfather'soldfriendthehedgehogappearedbeforehim。
'Oh,isityou？'askedthelittlecreature;'howstrangethatweshouldmeetsofarfromhome！'
'Ihavejusthadanarrowescapeofmylife,'gaspedthejackal,'andI
needsomesleep。Afterthatwemustthinkofsomethingtodotoamuseourselves。'Andhelaydownagainandsleptsoundlyforacoupleofhours。
'NowIamready,'saidhe;'haveyouanythingtopropose？'
'Inavalleybeyondthosetrees,'answeredthehedgehog,'thereisasmallfarmhousewherethebestbutterintheworldismade。Iknowtheirways,andinanhour'stimethefarmer'swifewillbeofftomilkthecows,whichshekeepsatsomedistance。Wecouldeasilygetinatthewindowoftheshedwhereshekeepsthebutter,andIwillwatch,lestsomeoneshouldcomeunexpectedly,whileyouhaveagoodmeal。
Thenyoushallwatch,andIwilleat。'
'Thatsoundsagoodplan,'repliedthejackal;andtheysetofftogether。
Butwhentheyreachedthefarmhousethejackalsaidtothehedgehog:
'GoinandfetchthepotsofbutterandIwillhidetheminasafeplace。'
'Ohno,'criedthehedgehog,'Ireallycouldn't。Theywouldfindoutdirectly！And,besides,itissodifferentjusteatingalittlenowandthen。'
'DoasIbidyouatonce,'saidthejackal,lookingatthehedgehogsosternlythatthelittlefellowdaredsaynomore,andsoonrolledthejarstothewindowwherethejackalliftedthemoutonebyone。
Whentheywereallinarowbeforehimhegaveasuddenstart。
'Runforyourlife,'hewhisperedtohiscompanion;'Iseethewomancomingoverthehill！'Andthehedgehog,hisheartbeating,setoffasfastashecould。Thejackalremainedwherehewas,shakingwithlaughter,forthewomanwasnotinsightatall,andhehadonlysentthehedgehogawaybecausehedidnotwanthimtoknowwherethejarsofbutterwereburied。Buteverydayhestoleouttotheirhiding—placeandhadadeliciousfeast。
Atlength,onemorning,thehedgehogsuddenlysaid:
'Younevertoldmewhatyoudidwiththosejars？'
'Oh,Ihidthemsafelytillthefarmpeopleshouldhaveforgottenallaboutthem,'repliedthejackal。'Butastheyarestillsearchingforthemwemustwaitalittlelonger,andthenI'llbringthemhome,andwewillsharethembetweenus。'
Sothehedgehogwaitedandwaited;buteverytimeheaskediftherewasnochanceofgettingjarsofbutterthejackalputhimoffwithsomeexcuse。Afterawhilethehedgehogbecamesuspicious,andsaid:
'Ishouldliketoknowwhereyouhavehiddenthem。To—night,whenitisquitedark,youshallshowmetheplace。'
'Ireallycan'ttellyou,'answeredthejackal。'Youtalksomuchthatyouwouldbesuretoconfidethesecrettosomebody,andthenweshouldhavehadourtroublefornothing,besidesrunningtheriskofournecksbeingbrokenbythefarmer。Icanseethatheisgettingdisheartened,andverysoonhewillgiveupthesearch。Havepatiencejustalittlelonger。'
Thehedgehopsaidnomore,andpretendedtobesatisfied;butwhensomedayshadgonebyhewokethejackal,whowassleepingsoundlyafterahuntwhichhadlastedseveralhours。
'Ihavejusthadnotice,'remarkedthehedgehog,shakinghim,'thatmyfamilywishtohaveabanquetto—morrow,andtheyhaveinvitedyoutoit。Willyoucome？'
'Certainly,'answeredthejackal,'withpleasure。ButasIhavetogooutinthemorningyoucanmeetmeontheroad。'
'Thatwilldoverywell,'repliedthehedgehog。Andthejackalwenttosleepagain,forhewasobligedtobeupearly。
Punctualtothemomentthehedgehogarrivedattheplaceappointedfortheirmeeting,andasthejackalwasnottherehesatdownandwaitedforhim。
'Ah,thereyouare！'hecried,whentheduskyyellowformatlastturnedthecorner。'Ihadnearlygivenyouup！Indeed,Ialmostwishyouhadnotcome,forIhardlyknowwhereIshallhideyou。'
'Whyshouldyouhidemeanywhere？'askedthejackal。'Whatisthematterwithyou？'
'Well,somanyoftheguestshavebroughttheirdogsandmuleswiththem,thatIfearitmayhardlybesafeforyoutogoamongstthem。
No;don'trunoffthatway,'headdedquickly,'becausethereisanothertroopthatarecomingoverthehill。Liedownhere,andIwillthrowthesesacksoveryou;andkeepstillforyourlife,whateverhappens。'
Andwhatdidhappenwas,thatwhenthejackalwaslyingcoveredup,underalittlehill,thehedgehogsetagreatstonerolling,whichcrushedhimtodeath。
[ContesBerberes。]
TheAdventuresoftheYoungerSonoftheJackalNowthatthefatherandelderbrotherwerebothdead,allthatwasleftofthejackalfamilywasoneson,whowasnolesscunningthantheothershadbeen。Hedidnotlikestayinginthesameplaceanybetterthanthey,andnobodyeverknewinwhatpartofthecountryhemightbefoundnext。
Oneday,whenwewaswanderingabouthebeheldanicefatsheep,whichwascroppingthegrassandseemedquitecontentedwithherlot。
'Goodmorning,'saidthejackal,'Iamsogladtoseeyou。Ihavebeenlookingforyoueverywhere。'
'ForME？'answeredthesheep,inanastonishedvoice;'butwehavenevermetbefore！'
'No;butIhaveheardofyou。Oh！Youdon'tknowwhatfinethingsI
haveheard！Ah,well,somepeoplehavealltheluck！'
'Youareverykind,Iamsure,'answeredthesheep,notknowingwhichwaytolook。'IsthereanywayinwhichIcanhelpyou？'
'ThereissomethingthatIhadsetmyhearton,thoughIhardlyliketoproposeitonsoshortanacquaintance;butfromwhatpeoplehavetoldme,IthoughtthatyouandImightkeephousetogethercomfortably,ifyouwouldonlyagreetotry。Ihaveseveralfieldsbelongingtome,andiftheyarekeptwellwateredtheybearwonderfulcrops。'
'PerhapsImightcomeforashorttime,'saidthesheep,withalittlehesitation;'andifwedonotgeton,wecanpartcompany。'
'Oh,thankyou,thankyou,'criedthejackal;'donotletusloseamoment。'Andheheldouthispawinsuchaninvitingmannerthatthesheepgotupandtrottedbesidehimtilltheyreachedhome。
'Now,'saidthejackal,'yougotothewellandfetchthewater,andI
willpouritintothetrenchesthatrunbetweenthepatchesofcorn。'
Andashedidsohesanglustily。Theworkwasveryhard,butthesheepdidnotgrumble,andby—and—bywasrewardedatseeingthelittlegreenheadspokingthemselvesthroughearth。Afterthatthehotsunripenedthemquickly,andsoonharvesttimewascome。Thenthegrainwascutandgroundandreadyforsale。
Wheneverythingwascomplete,thejackalsaidtothesheep:
'Nowletusdivideit,sothatwecaneachdowhatwelikewithhisshare。'
'Youdoit,'answeredthesheep;'herearethescales。Youmustweighitcarefully。'
Sothejackalbegantoweighit,andwhenhehadfinished,hecountedoutloud:
'One,two,three,four,five,six,sevenpartsforthejackal,andonepartforthesheep。Ifshelikesitshecantakeit,ifnot,shecanleaveit。'
Thesheeplookedatthetwoheapsinsilence——onesolarge,theothersosmall;andthensheanswered:
'Waitforaminute,whileIfetchsomesackstocarryawaymyshare。'
Butitwasnotsacksthatthesheepwanted;forassoonasthejackalcouldnolongerseehershesetforthatherbestpacetothehomeofthegreyhound,whereshearrivedpantingwiththehasteshehadmade。
'Oh,gooduncle,helpme,Iprayyou！'shecried,assoonasshecouldspeak。
'Why,whatisthematter？'askedthegreyhound,lookingupwithastonishment。
'Ibegyoutoreturnwithme,andfrightenthejackalintopayingmewhatheowesme,'answeredthesheep。'Formonthswehavelivedtogether,andIhavetwiceeverydaydrawnthewater,whileheonlypoureditintothetrenches。Togetherwehavereapedourharvest;andnow,whenthemomenttodivideourcrophascome,hehastakensevenpartsforhimself,andonlyleftoneforme。'
Shefinished,andgivingherselfatwist,passedherwoollytailacrosshereyes;whilethegreyhoundwatchedher,butheldhispeace。Thenhesaid:
'Bringmeasack。'Andthesheephastenedawaytofetchone。Verysoonshereturned,andlaidthesackdownbeforehim。
'Openitwide,thatImaygetin,'criedhe;andwhenhewascomfortablyrolledupinsidehebadethesheeptakehimonherback,andhastentotheplacewhereshehadleftthejackal。