died who had swords and shields." And it said, "Those affairs are over, look to mine." And she said, "If they were not who had two feet, shall you be who have four?" And it said, "Mother, I have not thought much of what was praised, praise I foresee for myself."
And she said, "I wish, child, you would go back where you came from." And it said, "That is not a matter to be had, mother, that I should return back again to the place I told you of." "What did you tell me at first?" And it said, "Did I not tell you, for a fly to die in cocoanut juice is no loss to it?" And she said, "True, my son, you did tell me so; and did I not answer you?" And it said, "How did you answer me, mother?" And she said, "Did I not tell you I foresee loss for you?" And she said, "Your loss is the cause of my not favouring you much." And it said, "I cannot but ask you, though you tell me not, but I will ask you. Who is the owner of this house?"
And she said, "Ah, father! in this house is abundance of wealth, and abundance of people, and abundance of food, and abundance of horses; and the owner of this whole town is an exceedingly and wonderfully great snake."
"Ahaa! old lady, give me a clever plan that I may get at this snake, so that I may get to kill him." And she said, "Oh, my son, don't say words like these; you will put me in danger, and there, where he is, the owner has heard. I have been put here by myself—I, an old woman—and it is my work to cook food. You see the pots there? Well, when the great snake is coming, there blows a wind, and the dust flies as if a storm were coming. Well, when he comes, and arrives here in the courtyard, he eats till he has had enough, and goes inside there to drink water. When he has drunk water, he goes away;
