But it was not sacks that the sheep wanted; for as soon as the jackal
could no longer see her she set forth at her best pace to the home of
the greyhound, where she arrived panting with the haste she had made.
‘Oh, good uncle, help me, I pray you!’ she cried, as soon as she could
speak.
‘Why, what is the matter?’ asked the greyhound, looking up with
astonishment.
‘I beg you to return with me, and frighten the jackal into paying me
what he owes me,’ answered the sheep. ‘For months we have lived
together, and I have twice every day drawn the water, while he only
poured it into the trenches. Together we have reaped our harvest; and
now, when the moment to divide our crop has come, he has taken seven
parts for himself, and only left one for me.’
She finished, and giving herself a twist, passed her woolly tail across
her eyes; while the greyhound watched her, but held his peace. Then he
said:
‘Bring me a sack.’ And the sheep hastened away to fetch one. Very
soon she returned, and laid the sack down before him.
‘Open it wide, that I may get in,’ cried he; and when he was
comfortably rolled up inside he bade the sheep take him on her back,
and hasten to the place where she had left the jackal.
She found him waiting for her, and pretending to be asleep, though she
clearly saw him wink one of his eyes. However, she took no notice, but
throwing the sack roughly on the ground, she exclaimed:
‘Now measure!’
At this the jackal got up, and going to the heap of grain which lay
close by, he divided it as before into eight portions--seven for
himself and one for the sheep.
‘What are you doing that for?’ asked she indignantly. ‘You know quite
well that it was I who drew the water, and you who only poured it into
the trenches.’
‘You are mistaken,’ answered the jackal. ‘It was I who drew the water,
and you who poured it into the trenches. Anybody will tell you that!
If you like, I will ask those people who are digging there!’
‘Very well,’ replied the sheep. And the jackal called out:
‘Ho! You diggers, tell me: Who was it you heard singing over the work?’
‘Why, it was you, of course, jackal! You sang so loud that the whole
world might have heard you!’
‘And who it is that sings--he who draws the water, or he who empties
it?’
‘Why, certainly he who draws the water!’
‘You hear?’ said the jackal, turning to the sheep. ‘Now come and carry
away your own portion, or else I shall take it for myself.’
‘You have got the better of me,’ answered the sheep; ‘and I suppose I
must confess myself beaten! But as I bear no malice, go and eat some
of the dates that I have brought in that sack.’ And the jackal, who
loved dates, ran instantly back, and tore open the mouth of the sack.
But just as he was about to plunge his nose in he saw two brown eyes
calmly looking at him. In an instant he had let fall the flap of the
sack and bounded back to where the sheep was standing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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