Page:An argosy of fables.djvu/269

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HINDOO FABLES
213

with the echoes of his roaring, and sent terror to the hearts of all the forest animals far and wide. The Jackal fled in all haste, saying to himself:

"He who acts with circumspection is happy: he who acts without circumspection will regret it. I have grown old in the forest, but never yet have I seen or heard a talking Cave."

(Panchatantra. Vol. III. Chapter 15.)


THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE

IN a certain spot near the Sea grew a great Jambon Tree, always full of fruit. And in this tree dwelt a Monkey, called Red-Chin. One day a Crocodile, named Fierce-Jaws, came up out of the water, and seeing the Monkey in the Jambon Tree, fell to talking to him, and soon they became good friends. After this the Crocodile often came to spend the day with the Monkey, under the shadow of the Jambon Tree, and the hours passed happily in pleasant talk. When the Crocodile returned home, he always gave his Wife such part of the fruit of the Jambon Tree as was left from his luncheon. But one day the Crocodile's Wife asked:

"My Lord, where do you find this kind of fruit, which has the taste of ambrosia?"

"My dear," answered Fierce-Jaws, "I have a dear friend, a Monkey named Red-Chin, who gives me this fruit because of his affection for me."

Then said the Crocodile's Wife, "Whoever eats always of such fruit as this must have a heart of ambrosia. If you want to keep me for your wife, get me the Monkey's heart, so that I may eat it and thus preserve myself from old age and death."