Chương Chương 9 · The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal

. The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal

[Illustration:]

Once upon a time, a tiger was caught in a trap. He tried in vain to

get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when

he failed.

By chance a poor Brahman came by. "Let me out of this cage, oh pious

one!" cried the tiger.

"Nay, my friend," replied the Brahman mildly, "you would probably eat

me if I did."

"Not at all!" swore the tiger with many oaths; "on the contrary, I

should be for ever grateful, and serve you as a slave!"

Now when the tiger sobbed and sighed and wept and swore, the pious

Brahman's heart softened, and at last he consented to open the door of

the cage. Out popped the tiger, and, seizing the poor man, cried,

"What a fool you are! What is to prevent my eating you now, for after

being cooped up so long I am just terribly hungry!"

In vain the Brahman pleaded for his life; the most he could gain was a

promise to abide by the decision of the first three things he chose to

question as to the justice of the tiger's action.

So the Brahman first asked a _pipal_ tree what it thought of the

matter, but the _pipal_ tree replied coldly, "What have you to

complain about? Don't I give shade and shelter to every one who passes

by, and don't they in return tear down my branches to feed their

cattle? Don't whimper--be a man!"

Then the Brahman, sad at heart, went further afield till he saw a

buffalo turning a well-wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it

answered, "You are a fool to expect gratitude! Look at me! Whilst I

gave milk they fed me on cotton-seed and oil-cake, but now I am dry

they yoke me here, and give me refuse as fodder!"

The Brahman, still more sad, asked the road to give him its opinion.

"My dear sir," said the road, "how foolish you are to expect anything

else! Here am I, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great

and small, trample on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the

ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!"

On this the Brahman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a

jackal, who called out, "Why, what's the matter, Mr. Brahman? You look

as miserable as a fish out of water!"

The Brahman told him all that had occurred. "How very confusing!" said

the jackal, when the recital was ended; "would you mind telling me

over again, for everything has got so mixed up?"

The Brahman told it all over again, but the jackal shook his head in a

distracted sort of way, and still could not understand.

"It's very odd," said he, sadly, "but it all seems to go in at one ear

and out at the other! I will go to the place where it all happened,

and then perhaps I shall be able to give a judgment."

So they returned to the cage, by which the tiger was waiting for the

Brahman, and sharpening his teeth and claws.

"You've been away a long time!" growled the savage beast, "but now let

us begin our dinner."

"_Our_ dinner!" thought the wretched Brahman, as his knees knocked

together with fright; "what a remarkably delicate way of putting it!"

"Give me five minutes, my lord!" he pleaded, "in order that I may

explain matters to the jackal here, who is somewhat slow in his wits."

The tiger consented, and the Brahman began the whole story over again,

not missing a single detail, and spinning as long a yarn as possible.

"Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!" cried the jackal, wringing its

paws. "Let me see! how did it all begin? You were in the cage, and the

tiger came walking by----"

"Pooh!" interrupted the tiger, "what a fool you are! _I_ was in the

cage."

"Of course!" cried the jackal, pretending to tremble with fright;

"yes! I was in the cage--no I wasn't--dear! dear! where are my wits?

Let me see--the tiger was in the Brahman, and the cage came walking

by----no, that's not it, either! Well, don't mind me, but begin your

dinner, for I shall never understand!"

"Yes, you shall!" returned the tiger, in a rage at the jackal's

stupidity; "I'll _make_ you understand! Look here--I am the tiger----"

"Yes, my lord!"

"And that is the Brahman----"

"Yes, my lord!"

"And that is the cage----"

"Yes, my lord!"

"And I was in the cage--do you understand?"

"Yes--no---- Please, my lord----"

"Well?" cried the tiger impatiently.

"Please, my lord!--how did you get in?"

"How!--why in the usual way, of course!"

"Oh, dear me!--my head is beginning to whirl again! Please don't be

angry, my lord, but what is the usual way?"

At this the tiger lost patience, and, jumping into the cage, cried,

"This way! Now do you understand how it was?"

"Perfectly!" grinned the jackal, as he dexterously shut the door, "and

if you will permit me to say so, I think matters will remain as they

were!"