THE JACKAL, DEER, AND CROW
In a forest called [1]Champak-Grove lived two friends, a Deer and a Crow. The Deer was roaming among the trees one day, when he was observed by a Jackal.
"Ho! Ho!" said the Jackal to himself, "If I can only win the confidence of this Deer, it may be that he will make a very fine meal for me." So he approached the Deer, and wished him a very good morning.
"Who are you?" said the Deer.
"I'm Small-wit, the Jackal," replied the other. "I live here all alone in the wood, and it is very lonely without anyone to talk to. It makes me very happy to know you, and I hope you will look upon me as your friend."
"Very well," said the Deer, so off they went together.
It was beginning to grow dark when the Crow, whose name was Sharp-sense, saw the two coming home together. He asked the Deer who his companion was.
"It is a Jackal who wishes to know us," answered the Deer.
"You must be careful with whom you become friendly," said Sharp-sense. "You know
'To folks by no one known house-room deny:—
The Vulture housed the Cat, and thence did die.'
"How was that?" asked the Deer and the Jackal.
"I will tell you," replied the Crow.
"On the banks of the River Ganges is a cliff called Vulture-Crag, upon which was a large fig-tree. It was hollow, and inside it dwelt an old Vulture who had lost both eyes and talons, and who was kept alive with food given him by the friendly birds that roosted in the tree.
"One day, when the parent birds were away, a Cat came, thinking to make a meal of the young birds, of which there were several. The nestlings were so much afraid of the Cat that they made noise enough to arouse the Vulture.
"'Who is there?' croaked he.
"The Cat, seeing the Vulture, thought his end was surely come. He knew he couldn't get away, so had to use his wits. Drawing nearer, he said:
"'Honored sir, I wish you a very good morning.'
"'Who are you?' asked the Vulture.
"'I am a Cat.'
"'Go away at once, Cat, or I will kill you,' said the Vulture.
"The Cat then begged the Vulture to listen to what he had to say, and afterward decide whether he should live or die.
"To this the Vulture consented, and so the Cat began:
"'I live near the River Ganges, eating no flesh and doing many things by way of penance. The birds that often visit me have said so much in your praise that I have come here, hoping to learn wisdom from you. It is not possible that you, who must know the law of strangers, could think of slaying me. Without doubt you know what the book says about the householder:—
For the tree will shade the woodman while his axe doth lay it low.
"Also:—
Honor him for thine own honor—better is he than the best.
"Then there is the rebuke:—
When the beauteous moon shines equal on the lowly and the lord!
"To all of which the Vulture said: 'Your words have much weight, but cats are very fond of meat, and as there are young birds here I told you to go.'
"Then the Cat bowed his head to the ground, showing his humility. 'Sir,' said he, 'I have overcome temptation, practised penance, and know the Scriptures. Always do I keep away from injuring others, for
He who suffers, being strong—
He whose harmlessness men know—
Unto Heaven such doth go.'
"At length he won the old Vulture's confidence, and went with him into the hollow tree and lived there. And day after day he stole some of the nestlings, and devoured them.
"The parent birds missed their young ones and sought everywhere for them, and the Cat soon saw that he would have to leave, so he slipped away from the hollow, and escaped.
"A little later the birds found the bones of the nestlings in the dwelling-place of the Vulture, and of course concluded that it was he whom they had helped who had so basely rewarded them. So they called a meeting of all the birds of the forest, told them what had happened, and the poor old Vulture was sentenced to death, and accordingly was executed."
"Now you have my story," said Sharp-sense, the Crow, "and this is why I warn you not to become friendly with people about whom you know nothing."
Then said the Jackal, "When you first met the Deer neither of you knew anything about the other; how is it, then, that you are such friends now? I know I am only Small-wit, the Jackal, but the Deer is my friend, and I hope you will be also."
"Don't let us talk so much," said the Deer, "let us all be friends and live happily together."
"All right," said Sharp-sense, "just as you say."
In the morning each of them started early for his own feeding-ground, returning in the evening, as was their custom. One day the Jackal said to the Deer, "Come with me, and I will show you where there is a field full of sweet young wheat."
The Deer went with him, and he certainly enjoyed the feast which he found ready. But the owner of the field saw him, set a snare, and the next day the Deer was caught in it.
Very soon Small-wit (who had been watching all the time) came along, and said to himself, "Oho! my scheme worked well. The Deer will furnish me with some very fine meals."
Just then the Deer saw him and called out, "Friend, please gnaw the strings and set me free."
But Small-wit only walked around the snare, examining it carefully. "It certainly will hold,' said he to himself.
To the Deer he said, "These strings are very strong, and this is a fast day for me, so I cannot bite them. To-morow I will do what I can for you." With this he went away.
Very soon the Crow, who had been looking for his friend, came along, and seeing his sorry plight, asked him how this all happened.
The Deer replied that this came through disregarding the advice of a friend.
"Where is that rascally Jackal," asked the Crow.
"He is waiting somewhere to taste my flesh," answered the Deer.
With a deep sigh the Crow exclaimed, "You smooth-tongued, traitor Jackal, what an ill deed you have done!"
The Crow stayed through the night with his poor friend, trying to think of some way to free him, and at last he hit upon a plan which proved to be successful.
Early in the morning the master of the field, carrying a club in his hand, came to see if the snare had caught the Deer. Sharp-sense, as soon as he saw him approaching, said to his friend, "Look as though you were dead; stiffen out your legs and lie very still. I will make believe that I am pecking your eyes out. When I utter a loud croak you jump up quickly and run away as fast as you can."
The Deer did as he was told, and when the farmer reached the snare, with the Deer in it quite dead, as he thought, he pulled up the net, and so released the captive. Then the Crow uttered a loud croak; up sprang the Deer and made off.
The husbandman was in a great rage at thus being outwitted, and threw his club at the fleeing Deer with all his might. But instead of hitting the Deer, it struck Small-wit, the Jackal, who was hiding close by, and killed him.
- ↑ The Champak is a bushy tree bearing a profusion of blossoms which resemble stars. It gives forth a delightful perfume.