Do that, without hesitation, which thou thinkest to be of beneficial consequences.  I am certainly in great distress.  Thou art, if possible, in greater distress still.  Let there be a compact between us without delay.  I will do that which is opportune and necessary for the accomplishment of our business, O Puissant one!  If thou rescuest me, the service will go for nothing I place myself in thy hands.  I am devoted to thee.  I shall wait upon and serve thee like a disciple.  I seek thy protection and shall always obey thy behests,’ Thus addressed, the mouse Palita, addressing in return the cat who was completely under his control, said these words of grave import and high wisdom:  ’Thou hast spoken most magnanimously.  It could scarcely be unexpected from one like thee.  Listen to me as I disclose the expedient I have hit upon for benefiting both of us.  I will crouch myself beneath thy body.  I am exceedingly frightened at the mongoose.  Do thou save me.  Kill me not.  I am competent to rescue thee.  Protect me also from the owl, for that wretch too wishes to seize me for his prey.  I shall cut the noose that entangles thee.  I swear by Truth, O friend!’ Hearing these judicious words fraught with reason, Lomasa, filled with delight, cast his eyes upon Palita and applauded him with exclamations of welcome.  Having applauded Palita, the cat, disposed to friendliness, reflected for a moment, and gladly said without losing any time, ’Come quickly to me!  Blessed be thou, thou art, indeed, a friend dear to me as life.  O thou of great I wisdom, through thy grace I have almost got back my life.  Whatever it is in my power to do for thee now, tell me and I shall do it.  Let there be peace between us, O friend!  Liberated from this danger, I shall, with all my friends and relatives, do all that may be agreeable and beneficial to thee.  O amiable one, freed from this distress, I shall certainly seek to gladden thee, and worship and honour thee on every occasion in return for thy services.  A person by doing even abundant services in return never becomes equal to the person that did him good in the first instance.  The former does those services for the sake of services received.  The latter, however, should be held to have acted without any such motive.’

“Bhishma continued, ’The mouse, having thus made the cat understand his own interests, trustfully crouched beneath his enemy’s body.  Possessed of learning, and thus assured by the cat, the mouse trustfully laid himself thus under the breast of the cat as if it were the lap of his father or mother.  Beholding him thus ensconced within the body of the cat, the mongoose and the owl both became hopeless of seizing their prey.  Indeed, seeing that close intimacy between the mouse and the cat, both Harita and Chandraka became alarmed and filled with wonder.  Both of them had strength and intelligence.  Clever in seizing their prey, though near, the mongoose and the owl felt unable to wean the mouse and the cat from