The Jackal And The Wolf

: South-african Folk-tales

Once on a time Jackal, who lived on the borders of the colony, saw a

wagon returning from the seaside laden with fish; he tried to get into

the wagon from behind, but he could not; he then ran on before and lay

in the road as if dead. The wagon came up to him, and the leader cried

to the driver, "Here is a fine kaross for your wife!"



"Throw it into the wagon," said the driver, and Jackal was thrown in.

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The wagon traveled on, through a moonlight night, and all the while

Jackal was throwing out the fish into the road; he then jumped out

himself and secured a great prize. But stupid old Wolf (hyena), coming

by, ate more than his share, for which Jackal owed him a grudge, and he

said to him, "You can get plenty of fish, too, if you lie in the way of

a wagon as I did, and keep quite still whatever happens."



"So!" mumbled Wolf.



Accordingly, when the next wagon came from the sea, Wolf stretched

himself out in the road. "What ugly thing is this?" cried the leader,

and kicked Wolf. He then took a stick and thrashed him within an inch of

his life. Wolf, according to the directions of Jackal, lay quiet as long

as he could; he then got up and hobbled off to tell his misfortune to

Jackal, who pretended to comfort him.



"What a pity," said Wolf, "I have not got such a handsome skin as you

have!"



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