Part 5
When the Wolf ran away, Da-gye the Sheep and Pen-dzong the Goat were so elated that they could not refrain from vaingloriously galloping after him until they saw him dive hastily into his earth some distance away; they then sat themselves down at the mouth of the hole and remained there for some time chaffing the Wolf and telling him to hurry up and come out to be skinned, whilst the foolish Wolf lay cowering and trembling within.
Presently the Sheep grew rather hungry and thirsty, so she went off to eat and drink, leaving the Goat to watch the earth. After sitting for a short while the Goat began rubbing his horns on a stone, and the Wolf hearing the grating sound squeaked out very humbly:
“Oh! Brother Goat, what are you doing now?”
“Sharpening a knife to kill you with,” replied the Goat.
And the Wolf cowered into the furthest recesses of his den trembling with fear.
A few minutes later some rain began to fall, and the Wolf hearing the sound of the pattering raindrops called out:
“What is happening now, pray, Brother Goat?”
“I am collecting the water to cook you in,” answered the Goat gruffly.
Presently the Goat began to scrape the earth with one hoof and the Wolf asked:
“What is that scraping noise, Brother Goat?”
“I am preparing a fireplace to boil the water at,” answered the Goat. “It will soon be time to finish you off.”
Just then the Sheep came back from grazing and said to the Goat:
“Now, Brother Goat, it is time for you to go and refresh yourself. I will stay here and look after the Wolf while you are away.”
The Goat thanked the Sheep for her offer and told her how he had been acting during her absence, and after advising her to behave in the same manner and on no account to show any signs of fear, he went off to get something to eat and drink.
When the Sheep found herself left alone at the mouth of the Wolf’s den, her natural timidity asserted itself, and she began to feel very nervous, but in order to keep up appearances she started to rub her horns against a stone, just as the Goat had advised her to do. As soon as he heard this noise the Wolf called out as before, asking what was happening.
“I am sharpening a knife to kill you with,” replied the Sheep, but she was so nervous that the Wolf at once noticed the terrified sound of her voice and began to suspect that he had been made a fool of.
“Is that you, Sister Sheep?” said the Wolf; “I thought it was Brother Goat.”
“No, Brother Wolf, it is me,” replied the Sheep. “Brother Goat has gone away to get himself something to eat and drink.”
“And are you all alone, Sister Sheep?” asked the Wolf.
“Yes, Brother Wolf,” replied the Sheep.
On hearing this the Wolf dashed out of his den, and seizing hold of the poor Sheep he quickly slew her.
The Wolf now realised that he had been made game of by the Sheep and the Goat and became very angry. So he started off to hunt for the Goat, vowing vengeance against him. As soon as the Goat caught sight of the Wolf coming along in the distance he guessed what had happened, and fled as fast as he could across the hills with the Wolf after him. They soon came to some rough, rocky ground, and here the Goat missed his footing and fell into a deep, narrow cleft between two rocks, breaking his leg; and the Wolf, who had not seen what had happened, jumped over the crevice and pursued his way, still hunting for the Goat.
For some time the poor Goat lay helpless at the bottom of the crevice, when by chance a Fox, who happened to be passing that way, heard him moaning and came to see what was wrong.
“Good-morning, Brother Goat,” said the Fox, peering down into the cleft. “What has happened to you, and why do you lie there moaning?”
“Oh! Brother Fox,” replied the Goat, “I have had a terrible misfortune. I am Pen-dzong the Goat, and I and my friend Da-gye the Sheep hunted a Wolf into his lair this morning and tried to frighten him by telling him that we were going to skin him; and while I was away getting myself something to drink and eat the Wolf came out of his den and killed my poor friend Da-gye the Sheep, and then proceeded to chase me. But I, as you see, fell down into this cleft and have broken my leg. I am unable to move, and the Wolf jumped over the crevice as I lay here and has gone right away. I have one dying request to make to you, however. I beg you when I am dead to strip off my skin and to hand it over to my young ones as a mat for them to lie on, and in return for this service you can have my flesh for yourself.”
The Fox was much affected on hearing the Goat’s tale, and promised to do as he asked. So when the Goat died shortly after the Fox stripped off his skin, and set off with it to hand it over to the Goat’s young ones. As he was going along, carrying the skin on his back, he chanced to come across a Hare.
“Good-day, Brother Fox,” said the Hare. “Where are you going to, and what is that you have on your back?”
“Good-day, Brother Hare,” replied the Fox. “This is the skin of Pen-dzong the Goat, whom I found lying in a cleft between two rocks with a broken leg. He and his friend Da-gye the Sheep have both been killed by a Wolf, and he begged me after his death to strip off his skin and to take it as a last present from him to his young ones.”
“Dear me,” replied the Hare, “that no doubt must be the same Goat and the same Sheep whom I rescued so recently from that very Wolf. What foolish creatures they are to have got themselves into so much trouble after I had freed them from all their difficulties. But, nevertheless, I am not going to let the Wolf get the best of me like this, and kill my friends with impunity. Come along with me and we will see what we can do to avenge Da-gye and Pen-dzong.”
The Fox agreed to this, and he and the Hare set off together to hunt for the Wolf. They travelled a long way without coming across him, but at length, as they were crossing a high pass they found him feeding upon the carcase of a dead Horse.
“Good-day, Uncle Wolf,” called out the Hare genially. “I am so glad to have met you. The fact is, there is a wedding feast going on at that big house over yonder, where Brother Fox and I expect to find plenty to eat and drink. If you care to come along with us too we shall be very glad, and I think we can promise you some better refreshment than that old Horse you are devouring here. So come along and see what we can find.”
The Wolf was very pleased at this invitation, so he joined the Hare and the Fox, and all three went off together to the big house where the wedding feast was being held. They studied the premises carefully before approaching too near, and they soon ascertained that the whole of the wedding party were busy feasting in the central room, and that the larder, full of good things to eat and drink, was quite unguarded. So they jumped in through a narrow window and began to enjoy themselves thoroughly, eating and drinking anything which took their fancy. When they were as full as could be the Hare said:
“What I advise now is as follows: let us each take some provisions, as much as we can carry, and bring them with us to our own homes, so that we may have something to go on with when we next feel hungry. I myself shall take some cheese; Brother Fox no doubt would like some cold fowl; and I should advise you, Brother Wolf, to carry off that jar of wine.”
The Fox and the Wolf both agreed with the Hare’s proposals, and they began to load themselves with the provisions they proposed to take with them. The Fox and the Hare had no difficulty in making up a bundle of cheese and cold fowl, but the Wolf found that it would be very difficult for him to carry off the jar of wine. So the Hare explained to him that the best plan would be for him to slip his head through the handle of the jar, in which case it would be quite easy for him to drag the jar along with him. So the Wolf put his head through the handle of the jar, and all three made ready to start.
“Well now, Brother Fox and Brother Wolf,” said the Hare in a genial tone of voice, “it is nearly time for us to be off. How are you both feeling? Have you had a good dinner? Are your bellies full?”
“Couldn’t be fuller,” replied the Wolf, rubbing his stomach with one paw. “I have done very well.”
“Well, then,” said the Hare, “as we have feasted well and feel happy and contented, let’s have a song before starting.”
“Certainly, Brother Hare,” replied the Wolf. “Will you begin?”
“I would with pleasure,” answered the Hare, “but really, the fact is, I can’t recollect a single song at this moment. Perhaps Brother Fox will oblige us.”
“I am very sorry, Brother Hare,” answered the Fox, “but I am afraid I don’t know any songs. I am sure Brother Wolf sings beautifully.”
“Yes,” joined in the Hare. “Pray, Brother Wolf, let us hear you sing?”
“No, no, please,” said the Wolf modestly, scratching his ear with one paw. “I am a very poor singer, you really must excuse me.”
But the Fox and the Hare pressed him, and presently he began to sing. At the first sound of his voice the men in the next room stopped their feasting, and saying to one another, “There is a Wolf in the house,” they rushed towards the larder.
As soon as they heard the disturbance the Hare and the Fox, carrying their provisions with them, hopped quietly out of the window and made off quickly for their homes. The Wolf, too, made a leap towards the window, but the great jar round his neck was too broad to go through the narrow opening, and he fell back into the room below. Again he jumped and again he fell back; and he was still jumping and falling when the people of the house rushed in and soon despatched him with sticks and stones.
STORY No. XII.
THE MOUSE’S THREE CHILDREN.
Many years ago, in the kingdom of Nepal, there was a little Mouse, who lived with her husband in a snug nest not far from the King’s palace.
Finding that she was about to be delivered of a child, the Mouse prayed to the gods that her offspring might be very strong; and when the child was born it appeared in the form of a young Tiger. The Tiger soon grew up, and one day he said to the Mouse:
“Mother, I must now go off into the jungle and live there with my brother Tigers. But if at any time you want my help, all you need do is to go into yonder thicket, and throw a handful of my hair into the air, and call my name three times.”
So saying, he gave the Mouse a handful of his hair, and went off into the forest.
Shortly afterwards the Mouse was again with child, and this time she prayed that her offspring might be very beautiful. When the child was born, instead of a young Mouse, she found that she had given birth to a Peacock. The Peacock soon grew into a large and beautiful bird, and when he had reached his full growth he one day said to his mother:
“Mother, it is now time for me to go and seek my own livelihood with my brothers in the forest. But if at any time you should require my assistance, all you have to do is to go to the top of that hill over there, and to throw a handful of my feathers into the air, and call my name three times.”
So saying, he gave the little Mouse a handful of his feathers, and flew away into the jungle.
Presently the Mouse found herself a third time with child, and this time she prayed to the gods that her child might become wise, wealthy and powerful; and when the child appeared she saw that it was a young man child. As the Boy grew up the mother was afraid that he, too, like his brothers, would want to leave his nest and go out into the world to live with his fellow-men. So she told him the story of his two elder brothers, and explained to him that he was a man child, and could not wander away into the jungle like they did, but must stay in the nest. The Boy promised to do so, and every day he used to sit and play about at the mouth of the nest.
Now it happened that in that country there lived a Mussulman, who made his living as a barber and by paring people’s nails. This man, who was very clever at his work, was often employed in the King’s palace, and one day, as he was going to his work in the palace, he passed near to the Mouse’s nest. There he saw the Boy seated on the ground, and, going up to him, he asked him whether he would like his hair cut and his nails pared.
The Boy said, “Yes,” and the Barber proceeded to cut his hair. To the Barber’s astonishment, each hair, as it fell to the ground, immediately turned into diamonds, pearls, and other jewels; and when he proceeded to pare the Boy’s nails, each paring, as it touched the ground, became a beautiful turquoise.
The Barber then went on to the palace, and as he was cutting the King’s hair, he told him about the miraculous child, whose hair and nails turned into jewels. The King, who was a greedy and unscrupulous man, determined to gain possession of so valuable a Boy, so he sent out some of his servants to bring the Boy up to the palace. When the Boy arrived, he was brought before the King, and the King told him that as he had been found trespassing in the royal forests, he intended to kill the mother, and to keep the Boy as a slave, unless the Boy could furnish him at once with four full-grown Tigers to guard the four gates of the palace, in which case he would marry the Boy to his daughter and would give him half his kingdom.
The poor Boy went in great grief to Mother Mouse, and related to her the whole of his interview with the King. The Mouse told him not to vex himself, and she gave him a handful of Tiger’s hair and sent him out into the jungle with full directions as to what he should do.
The Boy went off into the heart of a dense thicket in the jungle, and throwing the Tiger’s hair into the air, he called out at the same time:
“Brother Tiger! Brother Tiger! Brother Tiger!”
Scarcely had the words left his lips when he heard a low, deep growl just beside him, and a great Tiger stalked out of the thicket, licking his chops.
“Here I am, Brother,” said the Tiger. “What do you want?”
“Oh! Brother Tiger,” said the Boy, “the King has said that if I do not immediately provide him with four full-grown Tigers to guard the four gates of his palace he will kill our mother and make me a slave.”
On hearing this the Tiger laughed aloud.
“Is that all?” said he. “That is easily arranged. I can get you a hundred Tigers.”
So saying, he opened his mouth, and gave forth a series of fearful roars; and in a few minutes the whole jungle seemed to be full of Tigers, hastening up from all directions. When they were all ready, the first Tiger told his brother to mount upon his back, and so, with the Boy leading the way, and the other Tigers following in procession, they all went off in a body to the King’s palace.
As they approached the palace great consternation arose; servants ran hither and thither, and the guards were called to arms. And when the King was told what was happening he was greatly alarmed himself, but he seated himself on his throne, and gave orders for the Boy and the Tigers to be admitted.
The Boy rode in on the Tiger’s back to the royal presence, followed by all the other Tigers; and halting a few steps from the throne he said:
“Here, oh King! are a number of the best Tigers I could find in the forest. You can take your pick of any four you like.”
The King was very much astonished at this, and having selected four of the finest Tigers, he allowed the others to go away. But he still hankered after the jewels, and in a few days’ time he again summoned the Boy before him, and told him that unless he at once furnished four Peacocks to sit one on each of the four golden pinnacles of his palace roof, he should kill his mother and keep the Boy as a slave.
The poor Boy was very down-hearted on hearing this, and went sadly back to his mother with the news; but the little Mouse told him that it was all right, and giving him a handful of Peacock’s feathers, she instructed him how to proceed. So the Boy went off to the top of a high hill, and, throwing the feathers into the air, he called aloud:
“Brother Peacock! Brother Peacock! Brother Peacock!”
Immediately a fluttering sound was heard, and a magnificent Peacock dropped to the ground in front of him from the branch of a neighbouring tree.
“Here I am, Brother,” said the Peacock. “What do you want with me?”
“Oh! Brother Peacock,” said the Boy, “the King says that if I cannot at once provide him with four Peacocks to sit on the four golden pinnacles of his palace, he will kill our mother and make me a slave.”
“Never mind,” said the Peacock, “we can easily arrange that.”
So he fluttered back to the top of a high tree, and called the loud, shrill call of the Peacocks.
In a few moments the air was bright with numbers of fine Peacocks flying in from all directions.
“Now,” said the first Peacock, “come along to the palace.”
So saying, four of the strongest Peacocks seized the Boy in their claws, and they all flew together over the tops of the trees to the King’s palace.
When the courtiers saw the Peacocks coming, they ran to tell the King, and the King seated himself upon his throne in the courtyard all ready to receive them.
The Peacocks placed the Boy upon the ground in front of the King’s throne, and arranged themselves in rows behind him, with their tails spread.
“Here, oh King!” said the Boy, “are all the finest Peacocks I could find in the forest. You can have your pick of any four of them.”
The King was greatly astonished at what had happened, but he selected the four best Peacocks, and sent away the rest.
But the King still hankered in his heart after the jewels. So, a few days later, he sent for the Boy again, and he told him that unless his Mother Mouse could fight single-handed with the King’s state Elephant and destroy it, he would kill the mother and make the Boy a slave.
The Boy was greatly distressed on hearing this, for he did not think it possible that the little Mouse could compete successfully with the King’s great Elephant; so he went home very sadly and told his mother the whole story. But the Mouse told him he was not to be alarmed, and she directed him to smear her body all over with poison, and to tie a long string to her tail. As soon as she was ready the Boy placed her in the sleeve of his coat, and carried her along to the palace.
In the courtyard of the palace everything had been made ready for the fight. Seats had been prepared behind a barrier for the King and his nobles, whilst the roofs and the windows were crowded with hundreds of people who had come to see the show. At one end of the enclosure the King’s great tusker stood ready, still chained by the leg; and the Boy, with the Mouse in his sleeve, took up his stand at the other end of the arena, face to face with the angry Elephant.
At a given signal the Elephant’s chain was loosed, and with a bellow of rage he rushed towards where the Boy was standing. As he came on, holding his trunk high in the air, the little Mouse jumped to the ground and ran to meet him. The Elephant caught sight of this small object, and stopped for a moment to see what it was, and the Mouse hopped on to his foot. The Elephant at once put down his trunk to feel what was there, and in a twinkling the Mouse jumped into the open end of the trunk, and scuttled up it as fast as she could till she reached the head. She soon found herself inside the Elephant’s brain, and there she ran round and round, smearing poison all over the brain of the great beast.
The Elephant, not knowing what had happened, rushed round the arena, bellowing with rage and pain, and smashing everything within reach of his trunk. But presently, the poison taking effect, he fell to the ground stone dead, and the Boy, pulling the string which was attached to the Mouse’s tail, guided her out of the Elephant’s trunk till she reached the open air.
The King could no longer hesitate to fulfil his promise to the Boy, so he gave him his daughter in marriage, and presented him with half his kingdom. And on the King’s death the Boy succeeded to the kingdom, and he and his mother lived happily ever afterwards.
STORY No. XIII.
THE JACKALS AND THE TIGER.
Once upon a time there was a family of Jackals, consisting of a Father, Mother, and five young ones. After living for some time very comfortably near a large village, they found that the dogs of the village were becoming so numerous and so troublesome that they considered it necessary to change their place of abode. So one fine evening they started off and travelled away across the country, keeping a sharp look-out for some desirable spot in which they might settle down.