Don't you think I had better tie you to your chairs,
and then each will have to keep to his own plateful?"

"A good plan," the Jackals said, wagging their heads. They had now no
tails to wag, and they had to wag something. So the Farmer's wife tied
them tight to their chairs.

"But how shall we eat?" said the Jackals, who could not stir a paw.

"Oh, no fear for that, I'll feed you."

Then she brought out a steaming mess, and put it in the middle of the
table. All the Jackals sniffed at the steam, and all their eyes were
fixed greedily upon the meat. They began to struggle.

"Softly, softly, good Jackals!" said the Farmer's wife.

But what a surprise awaited the Jackals! They were so intent upon
watching the Farmer's wife and the meat, that none of them heard the
door open, and none of them saw the Farmer himself creep softly in, with
a great club in his hand. The first news they had of it was crack!
crack! crack!

All but three of the Jackals looked round, and they saw these three of
their comrades with their heads smashed in, lolling back in the chairs.
The Farmer held the club poised in the air; down it came crack! on the
head of the fourth Jackal. Then all the others began yowling and
struggling to get free; but in vain, the cords held them fast, they
could not stir; and in five minutes all the Jackals lay dead on the
floor.

After that the Farmer ploughed in peace,
and no one molested the Farmer's
wife when she brought
his dinner.

[Illustration]

The Wily Tortoise

A FOWLER was bird-catching in the jungle, and snared a wild goose. As he
was carrying home his goose, he sat down by a pond. In this pond lived a
Tortoise, and the Tortoise put up his nose out of the pond to sniff the
air. He saw the Fowler and the Goose, and being a very innocent
Tortoise, he feared no harm, but began to waddle towards them.

"Take care, friend!" said the Goose. "This Fowler has caught me, and he
will catch you!"

The Tortoise waddled into the water again. "Many thanks, friend," said
he. "One good turn deserves another." So saying, he dived down into the
pond, and brought up a ruby.

"Here, Mr. Fowler," said he, "take this ruby, and let my friend the
Goose go."

The Fowler took the ruby, but he was very greedy, so he said--

"If you will bring me a pair to this, I will let the Goose go."

The Tortoise dived down, and brought up another ruby. Then the Fowler
let go