The Fox Trained by the Wolf
Once upon a time, at the edge of an ancient forest where cool waters flowed, there lived an old wolf famed for his cunning. One day this proud hunter came upon a helpless fox cub that had been left all alone in the forest. With the crumb of mercy within him, he took the little cub under his protection and decided to teach him the fine arts of survival. Day after day he wove into the fox, stitch by stitch, how to listen to the voice of the wind, how to follow a trail and how to wait in ambush. The clever fox cub, for his part, engraved every lesson of his master upon his mind and watched for his chance. Time flowed swiftly and the little fox turned into a very clever young lad with a glossy coat. One morning the old wolf took his young pupil to a great sheepfold near the village in order to test him.
Puffing out his chest with pride, the wolf turned to the fox and said: "Today it is your turn to show me the skills you have learned." The young fox, with a sly smile, set his eye on the plumpest lamb in the fold. Before slipping behind the fence, he turned to the wolf and whispered: "Master, wait at the gate so that no surprise meets us while I drag the lamb out." The clever fox, the moment he entered the yard, secretly untied the rope of the mighty sheepdog that stood tethered there. Then he let out a shriek and drove the dog straight at the wolf who was waiting outside the fold. Hearing the growl of the furious dog, the wolf began a desperate struggle to flee and save his life. The fox, making use of this uproar, snatched the lamb and vanished swiftly into the depths of the forest.
When evening came and the weary wolf returned to his den, the fox had long since finished his delicious feast. While the old wolf glared at him with eyes blazing in anger, the fox bowed respectfully and said: "You yourself taught me the trick, master." Understanding that he had been defeated by the very tactic he had taught, the old wolf let out a deep sigh. For years he had believed that he ruled the forest by brute force, yet now he learned with pain that wit and cunning know no bounds. Accepting that his apprentice had surpassed him, from that day on the wolf handed the leadership over to the young fox. The cunning fox, with the torch he had taken from his master, went on living as the new and only ruler of the forest. Those who honor their master yet also let their own wit speak always manage to carve out their own path in life. The pupil surpasses the master.