A jackal lived in the forest. One day, hunger drove him into a village. The village dogs spotted him and came running. The jackal bolted.
Running for his life, he dashed into a dyer's house. In the yard stood a large vat full of indigo dye. The jackal fell straight in.
When he scrambled out, his whole body was bright blue. The village dogs took one look at this strange blue creature and fled in terror. The jackal had an idea.
He trotted back into the forest. The animals stared. None of them had ever seen anything blue like this! They backed away in fear.
'I have been sent by God himself,' announced the jackal. 'I have been appointed king of this forest.' Every animal believed him — lions, elephants, tigers — all bowed before him.
The jackal lived in great comfort. But one night, a pack of jackals came into the forest. They howled together in the darkness. Something stirred deep inside him.
He could not hold back. Before he knew it, the jackal howled right along with them — 'Hooah... hooah... hooah!' Every animal froze. The lion took one look and recognized him. 'That is a jackal!' The whole disguise was over.