\'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。