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 218 friend. Consequently you have nothing to fear. I will eat your Heirs according to your orders." So speaking, he glided from his hole, embraced Gangadatta, and set off in his company.

When they arrived beside the well, Gangadatta himself took the Serpent down into his home by aid of the wheel and bucket. Then, when his new friend was safely hidden in the hole, Gangadatta pointed out his Heirs; and day by day Priyadarsana ate them, until he had eaten every one. But when there were no more Heirs left, the Serpent said:

"My dear friend, no more of your enemies are left, and I am still hungry. Give me, therefore, some other food, since you brought me here."

Gangadatta replied, "You have acted like a true friend. But now, I pray you, go your way, by means of the wheel and bucket."

"Listen, Gangadatta," said the Serpent, "what you say is not kind. How can I go back? The hole which was once my fortress is no doubt long since occupied by another. Evidently I must remain here, and you must give me, one at a time, the Frogs that are your companions and followers. Otherwise, I shall eat them all at once."

When Gangadatta heard this his heart was troubled, and he said to himself, "I have done a terrible thing by bringing the Serpent here."

Accordingly, Gangadatta continued to feed the Serpent with one Frog at a time; and the Serpent, after eating his one Frog, often ate a second one secretly when Gangadatta was absent. Consequently, in the course of time, the whole company of Frogs was devoured, and there remained only Gangadatta himself. Then Priyadarsana said to him: