grey fairy tale book

Chapter 23 The Jackal and the Spring

Once upon a time, all the big rivers and streams were dry, and the animals did not know how to get water to drink.They searched for a long time without much effect, until one day they finally found a trickle, but they needed to dig deeper to get enough water out.So the animals said to each other, "Let's dig a well, and then we won't have to worry about dying of thirst." All the animals agreed, except the Jackal, who hated the work and asked others to do it for him.

After the well was dug, they held a meeting to determine who would guard the well, so that the wolves would not have a chance to come near the well, because everyone said, "Whoever does not work will not get water."

After some discussion, it was decided that the rabbit was in charge, and the other animals went home.

When they were all gone, the jackal came. "Good morning! Good morning! Rabbit." The rabbit also politely replied: "Good morning!" Then the jackal took off the small bag hanging around his waist, took out a piece of honeycomb and ate it, and turned to the rabbit and said: "You see, Rabbit, I'm not thirsty at all, and this tastes better than any water."

"Give me some," pleaded the rabbit.The jackal then gave it a little.

"Ah, it's delicious!" cried the rabbit. "Give me some more, dear friend!"

But the Jackal answered, "If you really want me to give you more, you must lie on your back with your paws tied behind your back, so that I can pour it into your mouth."

The rabbit complied.The jackal tied it tightly, pushed the rabbit to the ground with a "bang", ran to the spring by himself, drank as much as he could, and then went back to his nest.

At night, the other animals came back.Seeing the tied rabbit lying on the ground, they asked: "Rabbit, how could you be fooled like this?"

"It's all the jackal's fault," answered the Rabbit, "that he tied me up like this, and said he would give me something to eat. It's a trick to drink our water."

"Rabbit, you're an idiot for letting a jackal drink our water who didn't help find it! We'll have to find someone smarter than you! Who's going to come and see the well?"

"Let me come," cried the little hare.

The next morning, the animals went off to their own work, leaving the little hare by the spring.When they were gone out of sight, the jackal came. "Good morning! Good morning, little hare." The little hare also politely replied, "Good morning."

"Can you give me a pinch of snuff?" asked the Jackal.

"I'm sorry, I don't have one," replied the little hare.

Then the Jackal came and sat down beside the little hare, opened the packet, and took out a piece of honeycomb.He licked his lips and sighed: "Ah, little hare, if only you knew how delicious this is!"

"What's that?" asked the little hare.

"I use it to moisten my throat, and it is very refreshing," answered the Jackal, "and I am no longer thirsty after eating it. But I am sure that animals like you can never live without water."

"Give me some, dear friend," begged the little hare.

"Don't worry," said the jackal, "if you really want to eat something that will take you a while, you must lie on your back with your paws tied behind your back, so that I can pour it into your mouth .”

"You can tie them up, just be quick," said Little Hare.The jackal tied it tightly, pushed it to the ground with a "bang", ran to the spring, drank it all at once, and then went back to its den.

At night, the other animals came back.Seeing the hare lying on the ground tied up, they asked: "Little hare, why did you fall into such a trick? Didn't you boast that you are smart? You promised to protect our water, now let us see See how much water is left for us to drink!"

"It's all the Jackal's fault," said the little Hare. "He told me that if I made him tie his hands behind his back, he would give me something good to eat."

The animals said, "Who will take care of it now?" The leopard said, "Let the tortoise do it."

The next morning the animals went off to their work, leaving the tortoise to guard the spring.As soon as they were gone, the jackals came. "Good morning, Turtle, good morning!"

But the tortoise ignored it at all.

"Good morning, tortoise, good morning!" The tortoise still pretended not to hear.

The jackal thought, "Well, the guy I'm dealing with today is even more idiotic than the other two. I'll kick him over the side, and then I'll drink water." Then he walked up to the turtle and gently Said: "Turtle! Turtle!" But the tortoise ignored it.The jackal kicked it away, went to the well and began to drink.But as soon as it touched the water, the tortoise bit one of its legs."Oh, you're going to break my leg!" shrieked the jackal, but the tortoise gnawed harder and harder.The Jackal took out the bag and wanted the Turtle to smell the sweetness of honeycomb inside, but the Turtle turned his head away and could smell nothing.At last the jackal said to the tortoise, "I can give you the bag and its contents." However, the tortoise replied by biting the jackal's leg even tighter.

The situation remained stalemate until the other animals returned.Seeing them approaching, the jackal yanked them hard, managed to free their legs, and fled as fast as they could.The animals said to the tortoise: "Well done, tortoise, you proved your courage: because you defeated the jackal who stole the water! Now we can drink water with confidence."

(End of this chapter)