Panchatantra Jackal Drum

tale:panchatantra_jackal_drum

A hungry jackal, wandering a deserted battlefield, hears a fearsome booming and trembles, thinking some great beast is near. Creeping closer, he finds only a war-drum that thunders when the wind beats a branch against it — and inside, nothing but air. Moral: the loudest threats are often the most hollow. — Panchatantra (attrib. Vishnu Sharma)