"How was that?" said the Crow.

Hiranyaka related:

"In South Behar there is a forest named
Champakavate, in which a Deer and a Crow
lived a long time in great friendship. As the
Deer, cheerful and plump, was roaming at his
pleasure, he was seen by a certain Jackal.
Having eyed him, the Jackal thought within
himself,

"'Ah, how shall I feast on this delicate
flesh? It may be, if I can but gain his confidence.'
He having thus designed, drew near,
and said: ''Friend, health be with thee.'

"'Who art thou?' said the Deer.

"'I am Little Wit, the jackal. Here in this
forest, like one dead, without friend or relation, I
live alone, but now, having found thee a friend, I
have again entered the land of the living. Now
will I be wholly thy attendant.'

"'Be it so,' said the Deer.

"Afterwards, when the Sun, the divinity
crowned with light, had set behind the western
mountain, the Deer and the Jackal went together
to the Deer's dwelling-place. The Crow, the
Deer's friend, lived above it in the branches of a
great champall tree. The Crow's name was
Intelligence.

"On seeing them, he asked, 'Friend Deer, who
is this second?'

"'He is a Jackal,' said the Deer, 'come seeking
our friendship.'

"'Friend,' said the crow Intelligence, 'confidence
all of a sudden in a newcomer is
improper. It was not well done of thee; for house
room ought not to be given to one who is
unknown as to family and character, for through
trusting in the cat the vulture Jaradgarva was
put to death.'

"'How was that?' said the Deer and the
Jackal at once.

"The Crow related:

On the bank of the river Bhagirathi, on the
mountain called Vulture Peak, there grew a
large wave-leaf fig tree. In the hollow trunk of
it there lived a vulture, who, through the
hardships of fortune, had well-nigh lost his claws
and his eyes. The birds who lodged in the same
tree for pity's sake contributed each a little
from his own store for his support, and in
return he took care of the young birds. Now,
there was a cat named Long-Ear, who came one
day to prey on the young birds. The nestlings
set up a scream on seeing him, being
overwhelmed with terror.

The Vulture called out,

"Who is there?"

Long-Ear then perceiving the Vulture, said
to himself,

"Alas, I am undone! However, only so
long as danger is at a distance ought it to be
dreaded, but when a man sees danger at hand
he should act in a becoming manner. By
reason of extreme nearness it is now no longer
possible for me to fly from it; therefore, let it
be as fate will have it. I will go near the
Vulture." Having thus reflected and thus resolved,
he approached and said, "Master, I salute thee!"

"Who art thou?" said the Vulture.

"I am a cat," replied Long-Ear.

"Get thee to a distance,'' said the Vulture,
"otherwise thou shalt be put to death by me."

Long-Ear replied,

"Let my speech be first heard, and afterwards,
if thou seest fit, put me to death. I am
ready to be killed if I am worthy of death."

"Of what profession art thou?" said the
Vulture.

"Here, on the banks of the Ganges," the
cat Long-Ear replied, "I abide, performing
daily ablutions, eating no flesh, and practising
according to the usage of the religious
student. The birds, objects of your love, are
forever extolling your manifold excellences,
therefore am I come hither to hear the law
from you who know the law and are
advanced in years; and do you so understand
your duty as to be ready to kill me, your
guest? For is it not declared that hospitality
must be exercised even to an enemy arrived
at the house? The tree does not withdraw
shadow from the wood-cutter. A guest is made
up of all the gods."

The Vulture observed,

"Thou art a cat. Cats relish flesh. Young
birds dwell here, therefore I speak thus."

On hearing this, the Cat, having touched the
ground, rubbed both ears, and said,

"The arduous task of the lunar penance has
been attempted by me, who have heard the
sacred Scripture, and am free from passion; for
the writings of divine authority harmonise in this
sentiment, that abstinence from injury is a
paramount duty."

The Cat made many other wise observations,
and having by his beautiful sentiments gained
the confidence of the Vulture, he was allowed to
remain in the hollow trunk of the tree. But
day by day he caught young birds, and brought
them into his lodgings to devour them. The
lamenting and disconsolate parents whose offspring
had been eaten made inquiries. On hearing
these rumours, the Cat slipped out of the tree
and escaped. But the birds finding the bones
of their young ones here and there in the
hollow of the tree, set upon the Vulture and
killed him, believing that he had eaten the young
birds.

"'Recollecting this story it was that caused
me to say that one ought not to give house room
to one that was unknown.'

"'All very well,' replied the jackal Little-
Wit; 'but I would remark that on the day
when this Deer first saw your honour, he was as
unknown to you as I am now: the inquiry, Is
this one of our tribe or a stranger? is the
calculation of a narrow-minded man; but to
one of a noble man the earth itself is but one
family.'

"The Crow (Intelligence by name) was but
half satisfied. 'However,' said he, 'let it be so.'

"'Yes,' said the Deer, 'let us all remain