Page:Folk-lore of the Telugus.djvu/120

112 replied:—'I have changed my course of life and become a Brahmacharin. I have long wished to meet you, and hospitality is a sacred duty.' The kite, in answer, said:—'Cats are very fond of meat, and there are many nestlings here. This is why I spoke.' When the cat heard this, she put her paws to her ears, and invoking the Lord Krishna swore that she had given up animal food, and was now devoted to deeds piety. Hearing these words, the kite requested the cat not to be angry. 'How can a person know the character of a new-comer as soon as he arrives? Come and go as you please.' So the cat became a crony of the kite and used to live in the same hole in the tree.

By and by the cat used to creep out every night and eat some of the nestlings, which when the birds perceived they began to look about. The cat cleared out at once, and the birds found the bones in the nest of the kite and pecked him to pieces.

Therefore it is that I said that we should not trust a new-comer.

Hearing this, the jackal looked indignantly