“Let us sleep through the next dry season,” said the Snake.
“That would never suit me,” said the Hare.
At last, after a great deal of discussion, the Jackal and the Hyena suggested that they might all join in digging a great pool to hold water through the next dry season.
This seemed a wise plan, and on the very next day the animals came to dig the hole.
They agreed to take turns. It was settled that as the Hyena and the Jackal had made the plan, the Hyena should be first and the Jackal last; but when the Jackal’s turn came he was nowhere to be found. The pool was almost finished, and the others decided to go on and get it done without him. Soon the rain began to fall, and filled it full of pure, sweet water. Then a rule was made that no one except those who had helped to dig the pool should be allowed to drink there.
The Jackal was hiding in the bushes and heard all that was said, and he came very early the next morning and drank all that he wanted. Every morning, before any one else was about he did this, and after a while he grew bolder and took a swim in the pool, so that the water was muddy when the others came to drink.
“Who did this?” asked the Lion.
“Who did this?” asked the Leopard.
“Who did this?” asked all the other animals when they came to drink.
But no one knew.