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Fable of the Jackal! and Drum, 



I F the waters of your fears fwell immoderately the banks of 

 your fortune will be broken. When fortitude fails no fuccefs is 

 to be expeded. What appears moft terrible may prove an empty 

 found. 



Two hoftile Rajahs having engaged in battle one of them 

 was routed, and among other articles his troops left on the field 

 of battle a drum. A neighbouring jackall, attradted by the 

 fcent of the blood, came to the fpot, and had already, in ima- 

 gination, devoured the flaughtered elephants and horfes around 

 him when his attention was arrcfted and his alarms excited by 

 the found of a drum. At firft fancying the Rajahs were return- 

 ing to battle, he prepared, however reludantly, to decamp, but 

 the noife ceafing he ventured to approach the fpot whence it 

 proceeded ; when difcovering that it arofe from the wind occa- 

 fionally ftriking a branch, which hung loofe from a tree, againft 

 the drum, he pafTionately tore the caufe of his terrors, and 

 turning to the banquet before him quietly enjoyed his good 

 fortune. 



