In one forest there lived a big, angry lion. Every morning, leaving his cave, he filled the jungle with a terrible roar. And then all the animals ran away in fear in different directions. But it was not easy to hide from the lion. Each time he overtook some animal, dragged it into his cave and dealt with it there.
Days passed, and the lion became more and more voracious and angrier. Previously, he went out hunting only in the morning, but now the lion hunted in the morning, at noon, and at sunset.
One day, coming out of the cave, the lion, as always, opened his huge mouth and roared. But, a strange thing, he did not see a single running animal. The lion roared even stronger - and again saw no one. Then he realized that there were no more animals left in the jungle: they all found their end in his cave.
And it’s true: in the vast jungle there are only two animals left - the lion itself and the little jackal. This jackal lived so far from the lion's cave that he had never caught the eye of the lord of the jungle.
A hungry lion wandered through the forest for a long time, until one day he found himself at the home of a little jackal. Seeing the jackal, the lion roared:
- Pathetic creature! I've been hungry for so many days, and you lie here as if nothing happened! How dare you not offer yourself to me for lunch!?
“Listen to me, my lord,” said the little jackal, humbly placing his paws to his chest. “I’ve wanted you to eat me for a long time.” But every time I go to your cave, some lion blocks my way and orders me to go away.
- Why are you lying, insignificant! - the lion shouted. “I am the king here, and not a single lion will dare to appear in my domain!”
- O gracious lord! - the jackal groaned. - Do I dare to deceive my lord! Another lion lives in this jungle. And he is as much greater than you as you are greater than me. And if you could hear his voice! When he roars, trees fall like grass from a sickle, and clouds erupt with days of rain. This lion told me that you are more afraid of him than a wood mouse is of a kite.
Hearing such words, the lion roared so furiously that the echo of his roar reached the distant peaks of the Himalayas.
- Show me where this daring braggart is hiding
I swear by all the gods, I will tear him to shreds!
“Follow me, dear lord, and you will see your enemy.” He lives here, nearby, right by the lake.
Having said this, the little jackal ran forward. A lion followed him, trembling with anger.
The jackal ran until he reached a high, steep bank. Below the cliff stretched a deep transparent lake. Seeing the lake, the jackal turned to the lion and whispered:
“He’s down there, my lord.” See for yourself if you don't believe me.
Looking down, the lion immediately saw his reflection. But he decided that this was his enemy, about whom the jackal was talking.
The Lord of the Jungle swung his tail furiously, and his opponent swung his tail too. The Lord of the Jungle bared his terrible fangs menacingly, and his opponent also bared his fangs. The lion could not bear such insolence.
He roared, crouched on his hind legs and leapt at his opponent.
Need I say what happened next? In this place the shore was so steep and smooth that no matter how hard the lion struggled, he never managed to get out of the water.
When the jackal saw that the lion had sunk to the bottom of a deep lake, he jumped above his head with joy and, humming some song, ran to his house.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru