"How can I possibly be on good terms with thee?" answered Golden-skin with a laugh; "have you never read—
'When Food is friends with Feeder, look for Woe,
The Jackal ate the Deer, but for the Crow,'
"No! how was that?"
"I will tell thee," replied Golden-skin:—
The Story of the Jackal, Deer, and Crow
"Far away in Behar there is a forest called Champak-Grove,[[7]] and in it had long lived in much affection a Deer and a Crow. The Deer, roaming unrestrained, happy and fat of carcase, was one day descried by a Jackal. 'Ho! ho!' thought the Jackal on observing him, 'if I could but get this soft meat for a meal! It might be—if I can only win his confidence,' Thus reflecting he approached, and saluted him.
'Health be to thee, friend Deer!'
'Who art thou?' said the Deer.
'I'm Small-wit, the Jackal,' replied the other. 'I live in the wood here, as the dead do, without a friend; but now that I have met with such a friend as thou, I feel as if I were beginning life again with plenty of relations. Consider me your faithful servant.'