The Leopard, the Oryx and the Jackal

The Leopard, the Oryx and the Jackal, a South African folktale

Leopard was returning home from hunting one day, when he came upon the hut of Oryx. Now, Leopard had never seen Oryx before so he approached him warily. "Good day, friend! What might your name be?"

Oryx, a fine specimen with a formidable set of sharp and tapering horns, rapped on his barrel chest with his forefoot and replied in a gruff voice, "I am Oryx. Who are you?"

"Leopard," answered the other in a shaky voice, and then, taking leave of Oryx, he ran home as fast as he could. He immediately spied Jackal, who lived quite close to Leopard, and beckoned him over.

"Friend Jackal, I am all out of breath and half dead with fright, for I have just seen a terrible-looking fellow! Long horns grew out of his head, and when I asked his name he answered, 'I am Oryx.'"

"What a foolish fellow you are," cried Jackal, "to leave such a nice piece of flesh standing! Why did you do so? Never mind, we shall go back there tomorrow and eat it together."

Early next morning, the two set off for the hut of Oryx. As they appeared over the crest of a hill, Oryx, who was calculating where he should crop himself a tender salad for breakfast, spied them.

Oryx immediately ran back to his hut. "I fear this is our last day," he stammered to his wife. "Leopard and Jackal are both coming against us and they will soon be here. What shall we do?"

"Don't be afraid," said Oryx's wife. "Take up our child in your arms, go out with it, and pinch it to make it cry." Oryx, nodding, picked up his son and went outside, just as the confederates arrived.

No sooner did Leopard cast his eyes on Oryx, than fear possessed him again and he wished to turn back. Jackal had provided against this, however, and had tied himself to Leopard with a leather thong.

Oryx then pinched his child and called out in a loud voice, "You have done well, Friend Jackal, to have brought us Leopard to eat! Can you hear my hungry child crying out for food?"

Upon hearing these dreadful words, Leopard, ignoring the cries and entreaties of Jackal to cut him loose from the leather thong, ran off in the greatest alarm!

He dragged Jackal after him over hill and valley, through bushes and over rocks, and never stopped to look back 'til he brought himself and half-dead Jackal to his place again. And so, Oryx escaped.

(adaptation via Project Gutenberg and James A. Honey)

(images via SOHU)