The Spider's Riding-Horse

The Spider, a weaver of tales, boasted that he could ride the fearsome Hyena like a horse. The Hyena heard this and was enraged. He confronted the Spider, who said, "Oh, no, friend Hyena, that was a misunderstanding! I said I would accompany you to the festival, not ride you." The Hyena was still suspicious. "Very well," he said, "but I will carry you, so there are no tricks." On the day of the festival, the Spider climbed on the Hyena's back. "Oh, my," said the Spider, "I am feeling dizzy. I need something to hold onto," and he tied a vine around the Hyena's jaws like a bridle. A little later he said, "The branches are scratching my legs!" and he placed thorny twigs near the Hyena's flanks like spurs. As they neared the village, the Spider yanked the "bridle" and kicked with the "spurs." The Hyena, surprised and in pain, began to run and buck wildly, just as the Spider had planned. The villagers saw the Spider riding the wild Hyena and were amazed. The Hyena was utterly humiliated, having been tricked into becoming the very thing the Spider had boasted he would be.