The Jackal and the Drum

A hungry jackal wandered across an old battlefield. Suddenly he heard a deep booming sound. It echoed through the trees and filled him with fear.

At first he wanted to flee, but hunger made him pause. "A sound alone cannot harm me," he thought. He moved carefully toward it.

He found a large empty drum. Branches struck it whenever the wind blew. The jackal laughed and learned that many fears are loud because they are hollow.