“And so, winning the old Vulture’s confidence, Long-ear, the Cat, entered the hollow tree and lived there.  And day after day he stole away some of the nestlings, and brought them down to the hollow to devour.  Meantime the parent birds, whose little ones were being eaten, made an inquiry after them in all quarters; and the Cat, discovering this fact, slipped out from the hollow, and made his escape.  Afterwards, when the birds came to look closely, they found the bones of their young ones in the hollow of the tree where Grey-pate lived; and the birds at once concluded that their nestlings had been killed and eaten by the old Vulture, whom they accordingly executed.  That is my story, and why I warned you against unknown acquaintances.”

“Sir,” said the Jackal, with some warmth, “on the first day of your encountering the Deer you also were of unknown family and character:  how is it, then, that your friendship with him grows daily greater?  True, I am only Small-wit, the Jackal, but what says the saw?—­

    “In the land where no wise men are, men of little wit are lords;
    And the castor-oil’s a tree, where no tree else its shade affords.”

The Deer is my friend; condescend, sir, to be my friend also.”

‘Oh!’ broke in the Deer, ’why so much talking?  We’ll all live together, and be friendly and happy—­

    ’Foe is friend, and friend is foe,
    As our actions make them so,’

“Very good,” said Sharp-sense; “as you will;” and in the morning each started early for his own feeding-ground (returning at night).  One day the Jackal drew the Deer aside, and whispered, ’Deer, in one corner of this wood there is a field full of sweet young wheat; come and let me show you.’  The Deer accompanied him, and found the field, and afterwards went every day there to eat the green corn, till at last the owner of the ground spied him and set a snare.  The Deer came again very shortly, and was caught in it, and (after vainly struggling) exclaimed, ’I am fast in the net, and it will be a net of death to me if no friend comes to rescue me!’ Presently Small-wit, the Jackal, who had been lurking near, made his appearance, and standing still, he said to himself, with a chuckle, ’O ho! my scheme bears fruit!  When he is cut up, his bones, and gristle, and blood, will fall to my share and make me some beautiful dinners,’ The Deer, here catching sight of him, exclaimed with rapture, ’Ah, friend, this is excellent!  Do but gnaw these strings, and I shall be at liberty.  How charming to realize the saying!—­

    ’That friend only is the true friend who is near when trouble comes;
    That man only is the brave man who can bear the battle-drums;
    Words are wind; deed proveth promise:  he who helps at need is kin;
    And the leal wife is loving though the husband lose or win,’

And is it not written—­