The Tiger, the Old Man and the Jackal

Long ago, in a tiny village in India, a wicked tiger terrorized the villagers. He gave their children nightmares and ate their cattle. One day, seven brave villagers decided to stop the tiger. They made a huge net and hid behind some bushes. When the tiger stalked into the village, they threw their net at him. The tiger became so tangled and tied in the net that he couldn’t escape. Then the villagers locked him in a great wooden cage. The tiger snarled and spat, but he could not get out.

One day, an old man was passing the cage. Hearing a terrible moan, he peered through the bars.

“Old man,” the tiger called. “Take pity on me. My throat is so dry. Please let me out of this cage for a moment, so I can drink some cool water from the river.”

“I’m no fool,” snorted the old man. “The moment I let you out, you will eat me whole.”

“No, how could you say that? All I want is a drink,” promised the tiger. “I would not be that ungrateful to the man who saves my life.”

“Do you promise?” asked the old man.

“Yes,” nodded the tiger.

Sliding back the heavy bolt, the old man opened the door of the cage. The tiger sprang out.

“Now I am going to eat you up,” he roared.

“But you promised!” shrieked the terrified old man. “Tiger, I beg you, spare my life. Would you really eat the man who set you free?”

“Actually, I would,” admitted the tiger.

“Give me a moment to think,” begged the old man.

“I know. Let’s ask five creatures whether they think it is fair that you eat me. If they do, I am willing to die.”

“Very well,” agreed the tiger, licking his lips.

Off they set, looking for someone to ask. First, they came to a tall banyan tree growing beside the road.

“Banyan Tree,” called the old man. “Do you think it is fair that Tiger eats me, even though I let him out of the cage?”

“Well,” said the banyan tree, in his gloomy voice.

“At noon, when the sun is high, humans rest in the shade of my leafy branches. But when evening comes, and they are no longer hot and bothered, they break off my twigs to make fires. They show me no gratitude. So I say yes, let Tiger eat you.”

Tiger smiled and licked his lips.

“Let’s walk a little further,” said the old man quickly.

On they went until they met a camel.

“Camel,” said the old man. “Do you think it is fair that Tiger gobbles me up even though I let him out of the cage?”

“All my life I have worked hard for my master,” grumbled the camel. “Now that I am old and slow, he makes me work harder than ever, and beats me every day. My master is not fair to me. So I say yes, let Tiger eat you.”

“Eagle!” shouted the old man nervously. “Do you think it is fair that Tiger gobbles me up?”

The eagle swooped down and landed at their feet.

“I am a bird of the sky and I have never harmed a human. Yet they steal the eggs from my nest and shoot me with their arrows. Humans are cruel. So I say yes, let Tiger eat you.”

The tiger prepared to pounce.

“Wait!” squealed the old man. “We agreed to ask two more creatures.”

On the riverbank they found a grinning alligator, sunning himself.

“Please, Alligator, do you think it is fair that Tiger gobbles me up, even though I let him out of the cage?”

Hissing through his razor-sharp teeth, the alligator whispered, “Every day I have to hide in the mud from humans who want to catch me and kill me. So I say yes, let Tiger eat you.”

The old man had only one more chance. Soon they met a jackal, scampering along the road.

“Jackal, you are my last chance.” said the old man. “Do you think it is fair that Tiger gobbles me up even though I was kind enough to let him out of the cage?”

“What are you talking about?” asked the jackal, puzzled.

“I found Tiger locked up in a cage,” the old man explained. “He begged me to let him out so he could drink some water. But as soon as he was out, he threatened to eat me. Do you think that is fair?”

“What kind of cage was it?” asked the jackal.

“A large wooden one,” replied the old man.

“And you let him out?”

“Yes, I did.”

“I’m afraid I can’t really imagine this. Would you take me to the cage, so that I can see it myself?” asked the jackal.

So together they walked back to the cage.

“Old man,” said the jackal. “Exactly where were you standing when Tiger asked you to help him?”

“About here,” said the old man.

“And you, Tiger, where were you exactly?” asked the jackal.

“Stuck inside the cage,” complained the tiger.

“Bear with me a little longer,” begged the jackal.

“I still can’t quite picture the situation. Were you skulking at the back of the cage or prowling near the bars? Would you pop back into the cage and show me exactly where you were standing?”

“If I must,” sighed the tiger, and slunk into the cage.

“And was the door open or shut when you were inside?” asked the jackal.

“Shut, of course,” replied the tiger.

“Could we just demonstrate that for a moment?” asked the jackal.

“If we must,” agreed the tiger.

The jackal swung the door shut.

“One last question. Was the door bolted?” he asked.

“Yes. Just like this,” said the old man and he slid the heavy bolt across.

“Now that the door is bolted, old man, I think you should go home right away,” said the jackal. “And you, Tiger, you are an ungrateful beast. The old man helped you, and in return you were going to eat him for your lunch. I hope you stay in that cage for a long, long time.”

With that, the jackal and the old man turned and walked off toward the village. Inside the cage, the tiger moaned with frustration, because he had been tricked so easily.