Dusk was settling over the edge of the village. A skinny little jackal went nosing around for scraps. From inside the house — "Shoo! Off with you!" — and the whack of a broom. "Oh, if only I were somebody grand!"
All at once — "Woof! Woof! Woof!" a whole pack of dogs came charging. He ran for his very life — down this alley, up that one, feet pounding the dust. Gasping for breath, the jackal darted into a colour-maker's yard.
In the middle of the yard stood a tub brimful of blue dye. Never seeing it there in the dark — splash! Out he climbed again, wobbling — blue from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail! Catching sight of himself in a puddle, he froze. "Is that… me?"
At dawn the blue jackal came marching into the forest, chest puffed right out. No one had ever seen such a strange beast! The tiger bowed his great head. "Who are you, Your Majesty?" "I am a royal beast from across seven seas. From today, king of this forest too!"
A stone throne under the big tree. The deer brought him sweet cakes, the elephant fanned him with his great ears — ah, what comfort! Then one of his own kind peeked out of the bushes. "Hey — that's you, isn't it?" "Take them away," he muttered. And inside, his chest felt hollow.
Deep in the night, a moon round as a plate. Far away a pack of jackals lifted their voices — "Owoo-oo!" Before he knew what he was doing, he howled right back — "Owoo-ooo!" The whole forest went silent. So their king was… a jackal.
The whole forest burst out laughing. "A king? Why, it's only a jackal smeared in blue dye!" Burning with shame, he bolted for the stream. Splash, splash — every last bit of blue washed away. Back with his own pack, he said simply, "Here I am."
