When the Serpent heard this, he said, "How am I to believe that? For when does Grass make friends with Fire?"
"I know that it seems impossible," answered Gangadatta, "for you are our natural enemy. But I have come to you for help, because my Heirs make my life a burden to me."
"Where do you live?" asked the Serpent. "Is it in a pond, a lake, a swamp or a well? Show me your home."
The Frog replied, "I live in a deep well, walled all around with stones."
"I am a reptile," said the Serpent, "and dwell in the soft earth. Consequently, I could not enter through the stone walls of your Well. Or if I did enter it, there is no place where I could hide and lie in wait, to kill your Heirs. So you may as well go your way alone."
"Not so," said Gangadatta. "Come with me. For I will show you an easy way into the well. Half-way down, near the water level, is a convenient hole, where you may he in wait and amuse yourself by killing my Heirs."
When the Serpent heard this, he thought to himself, "I am already approaching old age. Sometimes by hook or by crook, I catch a Rat; and sometimes I don't catch him. So the prospect of a good living held out to me by this Destroyer of his own Family fills me with joy. So I shall go home with him and feast upon Frogs." Thus thinking, Priyadarsana said to the King of the Frogs, "I have decided to go with you, Gangadatta; let us get started at once."
"So be it, Priyadarsana," answered Gangadatta. "I will take you by an easy way and show you the hole in the well. But first you must promise me that you will spare my own faithful Followers. You are to eat only those Frogs that I point out to you."
"My dear fellow," said the Serpent, "from now on you are my
