The Adventures of a Jackal
by Andrew Lang · from The Orange Fairy Book
Adapted Version
Once, a clever jackal played with his hedgehog friend. They found a barn with food. They ate lots of food. Then they left.
They met a panther on the road. The panther liked the jackal's shoes. "I made them," said the jackal. "I can make you some. First, you must do a helpful job."
The panther did the job. They had a big meal. The jackal made new shoes. "Wait two hours," he said. "Then you can wear them."
The panther waited. He put on the shoes. They were very stiff! They hurt his feet. He found some water. He softened the shoes himself.
The panther felt cross. He chased the jackal. The jackal ran into a bush. The panther could not follow.
An old man saw the sad panther. "Have a feast," said the old man. "Invite all the jackals. Watch who looks at you."
The panther had a feast. Many jackals came. One jackal looked at the panther. The panther jumped! But the jackal hid his tail fast. He ran away.
The old man had more advice. "Look in the garden," he said. "Find the jackal with no tail."
The clever jackal was ready. He tied the other jackals' tails together. "The garden master is coming!" he cried. All the jackals ran. They all had no tails!
The panther stopped chasing. The jackal's tail was hidden. He went to find his friend hedgehog. "Let's get a sheep," he said.
They found a shepherd. "I'll sell you a sheep," said the sleepy shepherd. He put a sheepskin on his greyhound.
The next day, they took the "sheep." "Let me check it first," said the jackal.
The hedgehog looked closely. "These are not sheep paws," he thought. "I need a drink," he said. He left quickly.
The jackal was alone. He untied the "sheep." A loud growl! It was a greyhound!
The jackal ran fast. The greyhound chased him far away. The greyhound went back to the shepherd. The hedgehog was safe. Being too tricky can get you in trouble.
Original Story
The Adventures of a Jackal
In a country which is full of wild beasts of all sorts there once lived
a jackal and a hedgehog, and, unlike though they were, the two animals
made great friends, and were often seen in each other’s company.
One afternoon they were walking along a road together, when the jackal,
who was the taller of the two, exclaimed:
‘Oh! there is a barn full of corn; let us go and eat some.’
‘Yes, do let us!’ answered the hedgehog. So they went to the barn, and
ate till they could eat no more. Then the jackal put on his shoes,
which he had taken off so as to make no noise, and they returned to the
high road.
After they had gone some way they met a panther, who stopped, and
bowing politely, said:
‘Excuse my speaking to you, but I cannot help admiring those shoes of
yours. Do you mind telling me who made them?’
‘Yes, I think they are rather nice,’ answered the jackal; ‘I made them
myself, though.’
‘Could you make me a pair like them?’ asked the panther eagerly.
‘I would do my best, of course,’ replied the jackal; ‘but you must kill
me a cow, and when we have eaten the flesh I will take the skin and
make your shoes out of it.’
So the panther prowled about until he saw a fine cow grazing apart from
the rest of the herd. He killed it instantly, and then gave a cry to
the jackal and hedgehog to come to the place where he was. They soon
skinned the dead beasts, and spread its skin out to dry, after which
they had a grand feast before they curled themselves up for the night,
and slept soundly.
Next morning the jackal got up early and set to work upon the shoes,
while the panther sat by and looked on with delight. At last they were
finished, and the jackal arose and stretched himself.
‘Now go and lay them in the sun out there,’ said he; ‘in a couple of
hours they will be ready to put on; but do not attempt to wear them
before, or you will feel them most uncomfortable. But I see the sun is
high in the heavens, and we must be continuing our journey.’
The panther, who always believed what everybody told him, did exactly
as he was bid, and in two hours’ time began to fasten on the shoes.
They certainly set off his paws wonderfully, and he stretched out his
forepaws and looked at them with pride. But when he tried to walk--ah!
that was another story! They were so stiff and hard that he nearly
shrieked every step he took, and at last he sank down where he was, and
actually began to cry.
After some time some little partridges who were hopping about heard the
poor panther’s groans, and went up to see what was the matter. He had
never tried to make his dinner off them, and they had always been quite
friendly.
‘You seem in pain,’ said one of them, fluttering close to him, ‘can we
help you?’
‘Oh, it is the jackal! He made me these shoes; they are so hard and
tight that they hurt my feet, and I cannot manage to kick them off.’
‘Lie still, and we will soften them,’ answered the kind little
partridge. And calling to his brothers, they all flew to the nearest
spring, and carried water in their beaks, which they poured over the
shoes. This they did till the hard leather grew soft, and the panther
was able to slip his feet out of them.
‘Oh, thank you, thank you,’ he cried, skipping round with joy. ‘I feel
a different creature. Now I will go after the jackal and pay him my
debts.’ And he bounded away into the forest.
But the jackal had been very cunning, and had trotted backwards and
forwards and in and out, so that it was very difficult to know which
track he had really followed. At length, however, the panther caught
sight of his enemy, at the same moment that the jackal had caught sight
of him. The panther gave a loud roar, and sprang forward, but the
jackal was too quick for him and plunged into a dense thicket, where
the panther could not follow.
Disgusted with his failure, but more angry than ever, the panther lay
down for a while to consider what he should do next, and as he was
thinking, an old man came by.
‘Oh! father, tell me how I can repay the jackal for the way he has
served me!’ And without more ado he told his story.
‘If you take my advice,’ answered the old man, ‘you will kill a cow,
and invite all the jackals in the forest to the feast. Watch them
carefully while they are eating, and you will see that most of them
keep their eyes on their food. But if one of them glances at you, you
will know that is the traitor.’
The panther, whose manners were always good, thanked the old man, and
followed his counsel. The cow was killed, and the partridges flew
about with invitations to the jackals, who gathered in large numbers to
the feast. The wicked jackal came amongst them; but as the panther had
only seen him once he could not distinguish him from the rest.
However, they all took their places on wooden seats placed round the
dead cow, which was laid across the boughs of a fallen tree, and began
their dinner, each jackal fixing his eyes greedily on the piece of meat
before him. Only one of them seemed uneasy, and every now and then
glanced in the direction of his host. This the panther noticed, and
suddenly made a bound at the culprit and seized his tail; but again the
jackal was too quick for him, and catching up a knife he cut off his
tail and darted into the forest, followed by all the rest of the party.
And before the panther had recovered from his surprise he found
himself alone.
‘What am I to do now?’ he asked the old man, who soon came back to see
how things had turned out.
‘It is very unfortunate, certainly,’ answered he; ‘but I think I know
where you can find him. There is a melon garden about two miles from
here, and as jackals are very fond of melons they are nearly sure to
have gone there to feed. If you see a tailless jackal you will know
that he is the one you want.’ So the panther thanked him and went his
way.
Now the jackal had guessed what advice the old man would give his
enemy, and so, while his friends were greedily eating the ripest melons
in the sunniest corner of the garden, he stole behind them and tied
their tails together. He had only just finished when his ears caught
the sound of breaking branches; and he cried: ‘Quick! quick! here comes
the master of the garden!’ And the jackals sprang up and ran away in
all directions, leaving their tails behind them. And how was the
panther to know which was his enemy?
‘They none of them had any tails,’ he said sadly to the old man, ‘and I
am tired of hunting them. I shall leave them alone and go and catch
something for supper.’
Of course the hedgehog had not been able to take part in any of these
adventures; but as soon as all danger was over, the jackal went to look
for his friend, whom he was lucky enough to find at home.
‘Ah, there you are,’ he said gaily. ‘I have lost my tail since I saw
you last. And other people have lost theirs too; but that is no
matter! I am hungry, so come with me to the shepherd who is sitting
over there, and we will ask him to sell us one of his sheep.’
‘Yes, that is a good plan,’ answered the hedgehog. And he walked as
fast as his little legs would go to keep up with the jackal. When they
reached the shepherd the jackal pulled out his purse from under his
foreleg, and made his bargain.
‘Only wait till to-morrow,’ said the shepherd, ‘and I will give you the
biggest sheep you ever saw. But he always feeds at some distance from
the rest of the flock, and it would take me a long time to catch him.’
‘Well, it is very tiresome, but I suppose I must wait,’ replied the
jackal. And he and the hedgehog looked about for a nice dry cave in
which to make themselves comfortable for the night. But, after they
had gone, the shepherd killed one of his sheep, and stripped off his
skin, which he sewed tightly round a greyhound he had with him, and put
a cord round its neck. Then he lay down and went to sleep.
Very, very early, before the sun was properly up, the jackal and the
hedgehog were pulling at the shepherd’s cloak.
‘Wake up,’ they said, ‘and give us that sheep. We have had nothing to
eat all night, and are very hungry.’
The shepherd yawned and rubbed his eyes. ‘He is tied up to that tree;
go and take him.’ So they went to the tree and unfastened the cord,
and turned to go back to the cave where they had slept, dragging the
greyhound after them. When they reached the cave the jackal said to
the hedgehog.
‘Before I kill him let me see whether he is fat or thin.’ And he stood
a little way back, so that he might the better examine the animal.
After looking at him, with his head on one side, for a minute or two,
he nodded gravely.
‘He is quite fat enough; he is a good sheep.’
But the hedgehog, who sometimes showed more cunning than anyone would
have guessed, answered:
‘My friend, you are talking nonsense. The wool is indeed a sheep’s
wool, but the paws of my uncle the greyhound peep out from underneath.’
‘He is a sheep,’ repeated the jackal, who did not like to think anyone
cleverer than himself.
‘Hold the cord while I look at him,’ answered the hedgehog.
Very unwillingly the jackal held the rope, while the hedgehog walked
slowly round the greyhound till he reached the jackal again. He knew
quite well by the paws and tail that it was a greyhound and not a
sheep, that the shepherd had sold them; and as he could not tell what
turn affairs might take, he resolved to get out of the way.
‘Oh! yes, you are right,’ he said to the jackal; ‘but I never can eat
till I have first drunk. I will just go and quench my thirst from that
spring at the edge of the wood, and then I shall be ready for
breakfast.’
‘Don’t be long, then,’ called the jackal, as the hedgehog hurried off
at his best pace. And he lay down under a rock to wait for him.
More than an hour passed by and the hedgehog had had plenty of time to
go to the spring and back, and still there was no sign of him. And
this was very natural, as he had hidden himself in some long grass
under a tree!
At length the jackal guessed that for some reason his friend had run
away, and determined to wait for his breakfast no longer. So he went
up to the place where the greyhound had been tethered and untied the
rope. But just as he was about to spring on his back and give him a
deadly bite, the jackal heard a low growl, which never proceeded from
the throat of any sheep. Like a flash of lightning the jackal threw
down the cord and was flying across the plain; but though his legs were
long, the greyhound’s legs were longer still, and he soon came up with
his prey. The jackal turned to fight, but he was no match for the
greyhound, and in a few minutes he was lying dead on the ground, while
the greyhound was trotting peacefully back to the shepherd.
[Nouveaux Contes Berberes, par Rene Basset.]
Story DNA
Moral
Even the cleverest trickster can be outsmarted or undone by their own schemes and overconfidence.
Plot Summary
A cunning jackal repeatedly tricks a gullible panther, first with uncomfortable shoes and then by escaping two traps designed to catch him, each time losing a part of himself or causing others to suffer. Finally, the jackal attempts to trick a shepherd into giving him a sheep, but the shepherd disguises a greyhound. The jackal's friend, the hedgehog, recognizes the deception and abandons the jackal, who is then caught and killed by the greyhound, bringing an end to his mischievous adventures.
Themes
Emotional Arc
confidence to downfall
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story is attributed to 'Nouveaux Contes Berberes, par Rene Basset,' indicating its origin in Berber oral traditions, often featuring trickster animals.
Plot Beats (16)
- Jackal and hedgehog, friends despite differences, find a barn and eat corn.
- They meet a panther; the jackal boasts about his shoes and offers to make a pair for the panther if the panther kills a cow.
- Panther kills a cow, they feast, and the jackal makes stiff, uncomfortable shoes for the panther, then tells him to wait two hours before wearing them.
- Panther tries to wear the shoes, finds them painful, and is helped by kind partridges who soften them with water.
- Panther vows revenge and chases the jackal, but the jackal escapes into a thicket.
- An old man advises the panther to host a feast for all jackals and watch for one who glances at him.
- At the feast, the wicked jackal is identified by his glances, but he cuts off his tail to escape the panther.
- The old man advises the panther to find the tailless jackal in a melon garden.
- The jackal, anticipating this, ties the tails of all other jackals together, making them all tailless when they flee the 'garden master'.
- Panther gives up on revenge, and the jackal, having lost his tail, seeks a new scheme with the hedgehog: getting a sheep from a shepherd.
- Shepherd agrees to sell a sheep for the next day but secretly disguises a greyhound in a sheepskin.
- Jackal and hedgehog retrieve the 'sheep'; the jackal wants to examine it before killing.
- Hedgehog recognizes the greyhound's paws and cunningly excuses himself to get a drink, abandoning the jackal.
- Jackal, alone, unties the 'sheep' and is about to attack when he hears a growl, realizing it's a greyhound.
- Jackal flees but is caught and killed by the greyhound.
- Greyhound returns to the shepherd; hedgehog remains safe.
Characters
Jackal ★ protagonist
Tall, cunning
Attire: Shoes (briefly)
Cunning, deceitful, greedy
Image Prompt & Upload
A young man in his late teens with sharp, cunning features and alert amber eyes. He has messy, dark brown hair and a lean, agile build. He wears a worn leather tunic over a simple linen shirt, patched trousers, and sturdy boots. A small satchel is slung across his chest. He stands in a slightly crouched, ready posture, one hand resting on a belt pouch, his expression a mix of determination and wary curiosity. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Hedgehog ◆ supporting
Small, covered in spines
Cautious, clever, loyal (initially)
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, gentle hedgehog with soft brown fur and a pale cream underside, large dark eyes filled with warmth and attentiveness. Its tiny paws are clasped together in front of its rounded body, posture slightly leaning forward as if offering quiet comfort. A simple, knitted green scarf is wrapped snugly around its neck. The expression is kind and supportive, with a subtle, reassuring smile. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Panther ⚔ antagonist
Strong, easily fooled
Attire: Shoes (ill-fitting)
Gullible, vengeful, polite
Image Prompt & Upload
A menacing adult antagonist with sharp, feline features, dark olive skin, and piercing golden eyes that gleam with malice. Wearing a sleek, form-fitting black bodysuit with subtle panther-like patterns, a dark flowing cape, and knee-high boots with silver buckles. Hair is short, jet-black, and slicked back severely. Expression is cold and calculating, with a faint, sinister smirk. Standing in a predatory pose, body slightly crouched with one hand raised, claws extended, ready to pounce. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Old Man ◆ supporting
Wise
Attire: Simple, traditional clothing appropriate for an elderly man in a rural setting
Helpful, wise, observant
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly man with a long, flowing white beard and kind, wrinkled eyes. He wears a simple, earth-toned tunic under a heavy, hooded cloak of deep green wool. His posture is slightly bent, leaning on a gnarled wooden staff, with a gentle, knowing smile. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Shepherd ○ minor
Sleeepy
Attire: Traditional shepherd's clothing: tunic, cloak, staff
Deceptive, opportunistic
Image Prompt & Upload
A young boy, around ten years old, with a sun-kissed, freckled face and messy, straw-colored hair peeking out from under a wide-brimmed felt hat. He wears a simple, earth-toned linen tunic cinched with a rope belt, patched trousers, and worn leather boots. A rough woolen cloak is draped over his shoulders. He stands in a relaxed pose, leaning slightly on a long wooden shepherd's staff, a look of quiet contentment on his face as he gazes toward his unseen flock. He is in a green, rolling meadow with a few wildflowers. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Greyhound ○ minor
Fast, strong
Attire: Sheepskin disguise
Loyal, obedient, deadly
Image Prompt & Upload
A slender, elegant greyhound with a sleek silver-grey coat, bright attentive eyes, and a long, narrow muzzle. It stands poised with a graceful posture, wearing a simple leather collar with a small tag. Its ears are perked forward, and its tail is slightly curved. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Barn full of corn
A barn filled to the brim with corn.
Mood: inviting, tempting
The jackal and hedgehog overeat.
Image Prompt & Upload
Golden hour light slants through the open barn doors of a weathered, wooden barn, illuminating a breathtaking, overflowing bounty. The interior is completely filled with a sea of golden corn, kernels spilling out onto the dirt floor and forming a mound at the entrance. Dust motes dance in the warm, amber sunbeams cutting through the dim interior. The wooden beams and planks of the barn are old and textured, with deep brown and grey hues contrasting with the vibrant yellow of the corn. Outside, the soft glow of sunset paints the surrounding rural landscape in long shadows. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Panther's Forest Glade
A grassy clearing in the forest where the panther presents the cow skin.
Mood: peaceful, industrious
The jackal pretends to make shoes for the panther.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sun-dappled forest glade at golden hour, late afternoon light filtering through towering ancient oaks and birches. In the center of a lush, grassy clearing lies a smooth, tawny cow skin, neatly spread on the emerald grass. The forest floor is carpeted with moss and wildflowers. Shafts of warm, amber light pierce the canopy, creating a mystical, ethereal atmosphere. Soft mist lingers near the ground. The surrounding trees have gnarled roots and thick foliage in deep greens and browns. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves. The scene is serene, mysterious, and untouched, with a sense of quiet anticipation. No border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Dense Thicket
A thick, impenetrable growth of bushes and trees.
Mood: protective, secretive
The jackal escapes the panther's initial pursuit.
Image Prompt & Upload
Late afternoon light filters weakly through a nearly impenetrable canopy of ancient oaks and twisted hawthorns. A humid, misty atmosphere hangs in the air, diffusing the golden sunbeams into hazy shafts that illuminate floating dust and pollen. The forest floor is a chaotic tapestry of gnarled roots, moss-covered fallen logs, and a dense undergrowth of brambles, ferns, and saplings fighting for space. Leaves in every shade of deep emerald, olive, and shadowed jade overlap in a thick, layered wall, creating pockets of deep shadow. Tiny, delicate mushrooms cling to decaying wood, and a single, winding animal trail vanishes into the thicket's depths. The air feels still and heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Melon Garden
A garden filled with ripe melons.
Mood: tempting, chaotic
The jackal ties the other jackals' tails together.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sun-drenched fairy tale melon garden at golden hour, overflowing with plump, ripe watermelons and cantaloupes nestled among sprawling, vibrant green vines and large leaves. Soft, warm sunlight filters through, casting long, gentle shadows and creating a magical glow on the striped and netted surfaces of the melons. Whimsical, slightly oversized flowers bloom between the fruits, and tiny, ethereal fireflies begin to emerge in the humid, tranquil air. A rustic, moss-covered wooden fence lines the background, with a hint of a distant, enchanted forest. The atmosphere is peaceful, abundant, and subtly magical. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Shepherd's Cave
A dry cave used for shelter overnight.
Mood: temporary, uneasy
The jackal and hedgehog plan to eat the 'sheep'.
Image Prompt & Upload
Twilight scene inside a dry, shallow cave sheltered by a rocky overhang. The cave interior is illuminated by a small, crackling campfire in a stone-lined pit, casting warm orange and gold light on smooth sandstone walls and a rough-hewn wooden pallet with a woolen blanket. Stacked firewood and a leather satchel rest near the entrance. Outside the cave mouth, a dusky blue and purple sky reveals the first stars over a misty, pine-forested valley. The air is still and cool, with embers floating gently upward. Earthy tones of brown, ochre, and grey dominate the interior, contrasting with the deep blues of the evening. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
