Once upon a time, there was a little man with a bent back. He was very wise and an excellent archer. “I want to join the King’s army, but they will not take me because I am so little.” He found a way to solve his problem. “I’ll find a big strong man and tell him to join. I’ll go with him.”
So, he looked around and one day he saw a big strong man digging a trench. “Sir,” he said, “I have a proposal. I am the best archer in this kingdom, but no one will let me join the army because of my size. If you were to join, I would come along as your page. Then I will do the work and we share the pay. What do you say?”
This seemed like a good idea to the big fellow. He would not have to dig ditches and he would get half the money for work that was done by the little archer. So, he promptly agreed. They both went to the King. The big man offered his services and those of his page for a hundred gold coins every month. Impressed by the large strong man, the King took them into his army.
Whenever the King learnt that there was any danger to the kingdom, he sent the big man to deal with it. Each time, the little archer went with him. Once he killed a lion. The next time, it was a wild buffalo. The pleased King rewarded the big fellow each time.
After this, the big man started feeling that he himself was so strong and he did not wish to share the reward with the archer. So, he would treat him badly and talk very rudely to him.
Suddenly, a greater danger arose. The kingdom was attacked. The big man was sent at the head of the army on an elephant. He was terrified. But the little archer came to his aid, saying, “I’ll sit behind you. Just hold on tight. I’ll do the rest.”
As soon as the big man saw the enemy, he leapt off the elephant and ran for his life. The little archer knew that it was up to him to prove his worth. He stormed into the enemy’s army with the elephant and defeated him. Then he returned to his kingdom leading the King’s triumphant troops. The King and his subjects knew who the real hero was. The little archer received rich gifts and was made the chief of the army.
