The Jade Story Book/Chapter 20
THE DYED JACKAL
Once upon a time a Jackal, who was prowling around the suburbs of a town, fell into an indigo-tank. He found that he was unable to get out of this, and so lay down as though he were dead.
In due time the dyer came to the tank, and finding what he supposed to be a dead Jackal, took him out and threw him into the jungle.
When the dyer was far enough away the Jackal scrambled to his feet, and looking himself over found his color changed to a beautiful blue.
"Now," he said to himself, "I am certainly much prettier than I was before; why should not this accident prove to be a good thing for me. When the other jackals see my wonderful color, it should be easy for me to persuade them that I should be their king."
So he got the jackals of the jungle together, and said to them: "Good people, the Goddess of the Wood has annointed me king. Behold the hue of royalty! And after this do no business without my permission."
The jackals were overcome by the distinguished color, and promised obedience, and so began the reign of the dyed Jakal. But soon he was not content just to rule over his own kind, whom he began to despise, so declared himself king of the lions and tigers, from among whom he selected his special attendants, keeping his own kindred at a distance, as though he were ashamed of them.
Of course, this made the jackals very indignant, and some of them took counsel together to see what could be done about it.
One of the wise old beasts addressed them, saying: "Leave this impostor to me. The lions and tigers and the rest think he is a king because he is colored blue, but we must show them his true colors. Now, do as I tell you. When night comes, all of you gather around him, and set up a great yell together. He is sure to join in as he used to do, for———
"'Hard it is to conquer nature: if a dog were made a king,
Mid the coronation trumpets, he would gnaw his sandal-string.'
"And when he yells, the lions and tigers will know him to be a jackal, and fall upon him."
They did just what the wise old beast had suggested, and the thing befell exactly as he said it would. And so ended the reign of the dyed jackal.