Tit for Tat
by Unknown · from The Fairy Ring
Adapted Version
There was a big Camel. He was kind. There was a small Jackal. He was clever. They were friends.
One day, The Jackal spoke. "Sweet food is across the river," he said. "You can eat it. I will find small snacks. You take me across." The Camel listened.
The Camel said, "Yes." He swam in. The Jackal sat on his back. The Jackal could not swim. The Camel was strong. He swam across the river.
They came to the other side. The Camel ate sweet sugar cane. The Jackal looked for food. He found small things on the ground. He ate them quickly. They both ate.
The Jackal ate fast. He finished his food. Then he made a loud noise. "Yip, yip, yip!" he cried. He ran around. He made much noise.
People lived near the field. They heard the loud noise. "What is that?" they asked. They came to the field. They saw The Jackal. They saw The Camel too.
The people saw The Camel eat. They were very angry. "Stop eating our food!" they yelled. They chased The Camel away. The Camel was sad. He walked away from the field.
The Jackal was not hurt. He said, "Go home." Camel was sad. He said, "Okay." Jackal jumped on back. They went to the river.
They swam in the river. The Camel spoke to The Jackal. "Why did you make noise?" he asked. "The people chased me. I did not eat much food. You made a big problem."
The Jackal said, "It is my habit." I like to sing after I eat. It is just what I do."
The Camel swam more. The water was deep. He said, "I feel like rolling now." The Jackal asked, "Why do you roll?" The Camel said, "It is my habit."
The Jackal cried, "No!" The Camel rolled. He rolled in the deep water. The Jackal fell off his back. He fell into the water. He was very wet.
The Jackal was very wet and scared. He had to swim alone. He swam all the way home. The Camel swam to the land. He was safe. The Jackal was cold.
The Jackal was wet and cold. He learned to be a good friend. Always think about others, not just yourself!
Original Story
Tit for Tat
THERE once lived a camel and a jackal who were great friends. One day the Jackal said to the Camel: "I know that there is a fine field of sugar cane on the other side of the river. If you will take me across, I'll show you the place. This plan will suit me as well as you. You will enjoy eating the sugar cane, and I am sure to find many crabs, bones, and bits of fish by the riverside, on which to make a good dinner."
The Camel consented and swam across the river, taking the Jackal, who could not swim, on his back. When they reached the other side, the Camel went to eating the sugar cane, and the Jackal ran up and down the river bank devouring all the crabs, bits of fish, and bones he could find.
But being so much smaller an animal, he had made an excellent meal before the Camel had eaten more than two or three mouthfuls; and no sooner had he finished his dinner than he ran round and round the sugar-cane field, yelping and howling with all his might.
The villagers heard him, and thought: "There is a jackal among the sugar canes; he will be scratching holes in the ground and spoiling the roots of the plants." And they all went down to the place to drive him away. But when they got there they found to their surprise not only a jackal, but a camel who was eating the sugar canes! This made them very angry, and they caught the poor Camel and drove him from the field and beat and beat him until he was nearly dead.
When they had gone, the Jackal said to the Camel, "We had better go home." And the Camel said: "Very well; then jump upon my back as you did before."
So the Jackal jumped upon the Camel's back, and the Camel began to recross the river. When they had got well into the water the Camel said: "This is a pretty way in which you have treated me, friend Jackal. No sooner had you finished your own dinner than you must go yelping about the place loud enough to arouse the whole village, and bring all the villagers down to beat me black and blue, and turn me out of the field before I had eaten two mouthfuls! What in the world did you make such a noise for?"
"I don't know," said the Jackal. "It is a habit I have. I always like to sing a little after dinner."
The Camel waded on through the river. The water reached up to his knees—then above them—up, up, up, higher and higher, until he was obliged to swim. Then turning to the Jackal he said, "I feel very anxious to roll." "Oh, pray don't; why do you wish to do so?" asked the Jackal. "I don't know," answered the Camel. "It is a habit I have. I always like to have a little roll after dinner." So saying, he rolled over in the water, shaking the Jackal off as he did so. And the Jackal was drowned, but the Camel swam safely ashore.
Story DNA
Moral
One bad turn deserves another, and those who betray their friends may face similar consequences.
Plot Summary
A camel and a jackal, who are friends, cross a river so the camel can eat sugar cane and the jackal can find scraps. After the jackal finishes eating, he howls loudly, attracting villagers who beat the camel for eating their crops. On the return journey, the camel confronts the jackal about his betrayal, and when the jackal dismisses it as a 'habit,' the camel retaliates by rolling in the river, claiming it's his 'habit' after dinner. The jackal drowns, and the camel safely reaches shore, having exacted his revenge.
Themes
Emotional Arc
cooperation to betrayal to retribution
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is a common motif in Indian folklore, often found in collections like the Panchatantra, emphasizing practical wisdom and consequences.
Plot Beats (13)
- A camel and a jackal, who are friends, discuss crossing a river to a sugar cane field.
- The Jackal proposes a plan for the Camel to carry him across, benefiting both.
- The Camel agrees and carries the non-swimming Jackal on his back across the river.
- On the other side, the Camel eats sugar cane, and the Jackal eats crabs, bones, and fish.
- The Jackal finishes his meal quickly and begins to yelp and howl loudly.
- Villagers hear the noise, come to investigate, and find both the Jackal and the Camel.
- The villagers, angered by the Camel eating their sugar cane, beat him severely and drive him away.
- The Jackal, unharmed, suggests they go home, and the Camel reluctantly agrees to carry him back.
- As they cross the river, the Camel confronts the Jackal about his disruptive howling.
- The Jackal dismisses it as a 'habit' to sing after dinner.
- The Camel then states he feels like rolling, claiming it's a 'habit' after dinner.
- Despite the Jackal's pleas, the Camel rolls over in the deep water, dislodging the Jackal.
- The Jackal drowns in the river, while the Camel swims safely to shore.
Characters
The Camel
A large, sturdy dromedary camel, with a single prominent hump, long legs, and a sandy-brown coat. His build is strong and capable of carrying heavy loads.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To eat his fill of sugar cane and to maintain a peaceful friendship, but later, to exact revenge for betrayal.
Flaw: His initial trust in the Jackal, and his slow pace which makes him vulnerable to human intervention.
Starts as a trusting friend, becomes a victim of betrayal, and transforms into a calculating avenger who delivers 'tit for tat'.
Patient, trusting, initially helpful, but ultimately vengeful and cunning when provoked. He is slow to anger but remembers slights.
The Jackal
A small, slender canid with reddish-brown fur, a bushy tail, and pointed ears. He is agile and quick, much smaller than the Camel.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To satisfy his hunger and to indulge his 'habits' without considering the consequences for others.
Flaw: His impulsive nature and inability to control his 'habits' (yelping after dinner), which leads to his downfall.
Starts as a manipulative friend, successfully betrays the Camel for his own gain, but ultimately meets a fatal end due to his own thoughtlessness and the Camel's revenge.
Cunning, selfish, mischievous, and thoughtless. He prioritizes his own immediate gratification over the well-being of others, even friends.
Locations
River Bank (Jackal's Side)
The starting point of the journey, a typical river bank where the camel and jackal reside, likely with some vegetation and access to the river.
Mood: neutral, conversational, planning
The jackal proposes the plan to visit the sugar cane field to the camel.
The River Crossing
The wide river, deep enough in parts for a camel to swim, serving as the passage between the two banks.
Mood: initially cooperative, later tense and vengeful
The camel transports the jackal across the river both to and from the sugar cane field. The jackal drowns here on the return journey.
Sugar Cane Field
A vast field of tall, sweet sugar cane plants, located on the far side of the river, near a village.
Mood: initially abundant and tempting, then chaotic and violent
The camel eats sugar cane, the jackal eats crabs and bones, and the jackal's howling attracts villagers who beat the camel.