Page:Folk-lore of the Telugus.djvu/81

73 After some time had thus elapsed, the crane appeared to be very much dejected and melancholy. The fish approached it, and asked it what the matter was. To which the crane replied:—"What shall I say? A twelve years' famine will very shortly visit the land. Not a drop of water will then remain in this lake. I am able to know this by second sight, and, as you are my close friends, I cannot resist the temptation of informing you, lest you die when the famine comes."

The fish were exceedingly joyed at the humane nature of the crane, and requested it to save them from the impending peril. The crane, thereupon, informed them, that there was a lake a few yards further off, which would never dry, and that it would be a very happy refuge for the fish. The latter requested the former to take them up and leave them there. The crane, thereupon, took them up one by one and left them in the sun on a mountain-top, and slowly devoured them.

Moral:—We should never, therefore, believe the words of our natural enemies.