‘May it please you,’ explained the Serpent, ’your slave has nothing to eat.’

‘Eat a few of my frogs,’ said the King.  ‘I give you leave.’

‘I thank your Majesty!’ answered the Serpent, and forthwith he began to eat the frogs, until the pond becoming clear, he finished with their monarch himself.  ‘I also,’ said Night-cloud, ’stooped to conquer, but King Silver-sides is a good King, and I would your Majesty were at peace with him.’

‘Peace!’ cried King Jewel-plume, ’shall I make peace with my vassal!  I have vanquished him—­let him serve me!’

“At this moment the Parrot came in.  ‘Sire!’ said he, breathlessly,’ the Stork Strong-bill, Rajah of Ceylon, has raised the standard of revolt in Jambudwipa, and claims the country.’

‘What! what!’ cried the King in a fury.

‘Excellent good, Goose!’ muttered the Minister.  ‘This is thy work!’

‘Bid him but await me!’ exclaimed the King, ’and I will tear him up like a tree!’

‘Ah, Sire,’ said the Minister—­

    ’Thunder for nothing, like December’s cloud,
    Passes unmarked:  strike hard, but speak not loud.’

We cannot march without making peace first; our rear will be attacked.’

‘Must it be so?’ asked the King.

‘My Liege, it must,’ replied the Vulture.

‘Make a peace then,’ said the King, ‘and make an end.’

‘It is well,’ observed the Minister, and set out for the Court of the King Silver-sides.  While he was yet coming, the Crane announced his approach.

‘Ah!’ said the Swan-King, ’this will be another designing spy from the enemy.’

‘Misdoubt him not!’ answered the Goose, smiling, ’it is the Vulture Far-sight, a spirit beyond suspicion.  Would your Majesty be as the Swan that took the stars reflected in the pool for lily-buds, and being deceived, would eat no lily-shoots by day, thinking them stars?’

‘Not so! but treachery breeds mistrust,’ replied the Rajah; is it not written—­

    ’Minds deceived by evil natures, from the good their faith withhold;
    When hot conjee once has burned them, children blow upon the cold.’

‘It is so written, my Liege,’ said the Minister.  ’But this one may be trusted.  Let him be received with compliments and a gift.’

’Accordingly the Vulture was conducted, with the most profound respect, from the fort to the King’s audience-hall, where a throne was placed for him.

‘Minister,’ said the Goose, ‘consider us and ours at thy disposal.’

‘So consider us,’ assented the Swan-King.

‘I thank you,’ said Far-sight; ’but—­

    ’With a gift the miser meet;
    Proud men by obeisance greet;
    Women’s silly fancies soothe;
    Give wise men their due—­the truth.’

’I am come to conclude a peace, not to claim your kingdom.  By what mode shall we conclude it?’

‘How many modes be there?’ asked King Silver-sides.