XV
THE BRAHMIN, THE TIGER, AND THE JACKAL
ONCE upon a time a Brahmin, who was walking along the road, came upon an iron cage in which some men had shut up a great Tiger.
As the Brahmin passed by, the Tiger called out:
“O brother Brahmin, brother Brahmin, have pity on me, and let me out for only one minute! I am so thirsty I shall die unless I can have a drink of water.”
“I am afraid,” said the Brahmin, “that if I let you out you will eat me.”
“No, indeed,” said the Tiger. “As soon as I have had some water, I will go back to my cage.”
Then the Brahmin was sorry for the thirsty beast, and opened the cage door. Instantly the Tiger jumped out, and cried, “I will eat you first and drink the water afterwards.”
“Do not be in such a hurry,” said the Brahmin. “Let us ask the opinions of six, and, if they all say it is fair for you to kill me, then I am willing to die.”
“Very well,” said the Tiger, “we will ask the first six living things we meet.”