Page:Folk-lore of the Telugus.djvu/129

121 life is easier for us." Manthara hearing this, said:—"Wealth is perishable, and it is useless to hoard it, as you will see from the fate of the miserly jackal. "

One day a hunter named Bhairava, of the city of Kalyana Katak, went into the forest. He slew a deer and was carrying it home when he met a wild pig. He aimed an arrow at the beast, which in his death struggle gored him and a great serpent which lay close by. So all three died then and there. Up came the jackal Thirgarava, and seeing the dead bodies rejoiced at the prospect of having abundant food. But in his greediness bethought to himself:—'The meat I will keep for use and meanwhile I will eat the bowstring.' As soon as he began to bite the string the arrow was released and slew him too."

When he heard these words of Manthara he rejoiced and said:—"Now I know the value of a good friend."

One day when they were enjoying themselves in the forest a deer rushed up, pursued by a hunter. The tortoise in his fear shuffled into