Old Sultan
PEASANT once had a faithful dog called Sultan, who had grown old and lost all his teeth, and could no longer keep fast hold of his quarry. One day when the peasant was standing in front of his house with his wife, he said: ‘To-morrow I intend to shoot old Sultan; he is no longer any use.’
His wife, who pitied the faithful animal, answered: ‘Since he has served us so long and honestly, we might at least keep him and feed him to the end of his days.’
‘What nonsense,’ said her husband ; ‘you are a fool. He has not a tooth left in his head; thieves are not a bit afraid of him now that they can get away from him. Even if he has served us well, he has been well fed in return.’
The poor dog, who lay near, stretched out in the sun, heard all they said, and was sad at the thought that the next day was to be his last. Now, he had a good friend who was a wolf, and in the evening he slunk off into the wood, and complained to him of the fate which awaited him.
‘Listen, comrade,’ said the Wolf, ‘be of good cheer; I will help you in your need, for I have thought of a plan. To-morrow your master and mistress are going hay-making, and