In a forest, where many jackals and foxes lived, a tiger arrived and settled down. The tiger began to kill one or two jackals every day. The jackals and foxes grew worried and decided to hold a meeting. They concluded that if the tiger continued in this manner, he would eventually wipe them all out. To avoid this, they agreed that each animal would take turns offering themselves to the tiger.
One day, it was a fox's turn. Initially, the fox hid, but realizing that he couldn't escape, he decided to face the tiger and try to outsmart him. Trembling with fear, the fox approached the tiger. "Why have you taken so long?" asked the tiger. The fox replied, "There is another tiger in your territory."
"Where is he?" the tiger demanded.
"Come with me, and I'll show you," said the fox. The fox led the tiger to a well and told him that the other tiger was inside, resting after eating a jackal. The tiger, angry at the idea of another tiger in his territory, looked into the well and saw his own reflection, mistaking it for the rival tiger. Furious, the tiger jumped into the well to fight but instead drowned.
The fox returned to his companions, jubilant. The jackals and foxes were initially upset, thinking the tiger would be enraged if the fox escaped. But the fox assured them that the tiger was dead. Sceptical, they followed the fox to the well, where they saw the tiger's lifeless body. Relieved, they celebrated together.
Source: Balochi Tales (Folklore History Series)
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