The Jackal, thinking, “To-day a good eating has been hung up for me,” said, “Anē! Friend, I am indeed unable to bite the deer-hide fold. My teeth are shaking about.”
Then those three said, “Anē! Friend, don’t tell those lies; you can indeed somehow or other bite it.”
Having said, “Anē! I cannot,” the Jackal lay down at the edge of the jungle. In [every] possible way the three told the Jackal. The Jackal did not bite it at all. Having said [to himself], “I shall obtain the stomach,” he remained silent.
The Turtle was biting and biting [the cord] as much as he could, during that day night-time. On the following day, as it became light, the Crow said to the Woodpecker, “Friend, you go, and when the Vaeddā is preparing to come, make an evil omen (bādā).”
At dawn, the Vaeddā having arisen says to the Vaedi woman (his wife), “Cook a packet of rice, and give me it. I have set a noose. In order to go to look at it.”
At that time the Woodpecker cried out. Then the Vaeddā says, “Bolan, there is a bad omen. Having waited a little time, cook.”[2]
Afterwards, having waited a little time the woman arose. At that time, also, the Woodpecker cried out. When she was taking the rice also, the Woodpecker cried out, yet the woman having cooked the packet of rice gave it to the Vaeddā.
The Vaeddā taking the axe and taking the packet of cooked rice, at the time when the Vaeddā is going, the Woodpecker having come flying above tells the other friends, “Anē! Friend, now then indeed, we cannot save him. I made evil omens as much as possible; without hearkening to them the Vaeddā is coming.”
Afterwards, the three beseeched the Jackal, and told it [to bite the cord]. Yet the Jackal did not bite it. Having said [to himself], “I shall obtain the stomach,” without speaking he remained lying down.
Then the Vaeddā having come, and seen that the Deer has been caught, hung the packet of cooked rice on a tree, and taking the axe came near the Deer. As he was coming, the Crow tore open the packet of cooked rice. Then when the Vaeddā is coming near the packet of cooked rice, the Crow goes away.