‘Prepare for war, then!’ said the King.

‘We must not enter on it in the face of destiny,’ interposed the Vulture-Minister, whose title was ‘Far-sight.’

’Let the Astrologer then discover a favorable conjuncture for the expedition, and let my forces be reviewed meantime,’ said the King.

‘We must not march without great circumspection,’ observed Far-sight.

‘Minister!’ exclaimed the King, ’you chafe me.  Say, however, with what force we should set out.’

‘It should be well selected, rather than unwieldy,’ replied the Vulture—­

    ’Better few and chosen fighters than of shaven crowns a host,
    For in headlong flight confounded, with the base the brave are lost.’

And its commanders must be judiciously appointed; for it is said—­

    ’Ever absent, harsh, unjustly portioning the captured prey—­
    These, and cold or laggard leaders make a host to melt away.’

‘Ah!’ interrupted the Rajah, ’what need of so much talk?  We will go, and, if Vachaspati please, we will conquer.’

Shortly afterwards the Spy returned to Camphor-island.  ’King Silver-sides,’ he cried, ’the Rajah, Jewel-plume, is on his way hither, and has reached the Ghauts.  Let the fort be manned, for that Vulture is a great minister; and I have learned, too, that there is one among us who is in his pay.’

‘King!’ said the Goose, ‘that must be the Crow.’

‘But whence, then, did he show such willingness to punish the Parrot?’ objected his Majesty.  ’Besides, war was declared long after the Crow came to Court.’

‘I misdoubt him,’ said the Minister, ‘because he is a stranger.’

‘But strangers surely may be well-disposed,’ replied the King.  ’How say the books?—­

’Kind is kin, howe’er a stranger—­kin unkind is stranger shown;
Sores hurt, though the body breeds them—­drugs relieve, though
desert-grown.’

Have you never heard of King Sudraka and the unknown Servant, who gave his son’s life for the King?

‘Never,’ answered the Goose.

THE STORY OF THE FAITHFUL RAJPOOT

“I will tell you the tale,” said the King, “as I heard it from ‘Lilyflower,’ daughter of the Flamingo ‘White-flag,’ of whom I was once very fond:—­A soldier presented himself one morning at King Sudraka’s gate, and bade the porter procure an audience for ’Vira-vara, a Rajpoot,’[19] who sought employment.  Being admitted to the presence, he thus addressed the King:—­

‘If your Highness needs an attendant, behold one!’

‘What pay do you ask?’ inquired the King.

‘Five hundred pieces of gold a day,’ said Vira-vara.

‘And your accoutrements?’ asked the King.

‘Are these two arms, and this sabre, which serve for a third,’ said Vira-vara, rolling up his sleeve.

‘I cannot entertain you,’ rejoined his Majesty; and thereupon the Rajpoot made salaam, and withdrew.  Then said the Ministers, ’If it please your Majesty, the stipend is excessive, but give him pay for four days, and see wherein he may deserve it.’  Accordingly, the Rajpoot was recalled, and received wages for four days, with the complimentary betel.—­Ah! the rare betel!  Truly say the wise of it—­