younger brother?" "Just hereabouts, my elder brother," said the dog. Upon that the dog also asked the crocodile, "Where are you from, elder brother?" "We just come from such a place, younger brother," said he.
And said the dog, "What do you think about my proposal? do you agree or not?" "What proposal is that, younger brother?" "Let us strike up a friendship together," said the dog. "Yes, all right," said the crocodile; "if a little fellow like you knows what is right, much more a senior like myself. Come along then, young friend." "Agreed," said the dog. So the two struck up a firm friendship, and went on talking thus: "Whoever proves false," said the crocodile, "shall be scouted." "Agreed," said the dog.
Some little time afterwards the crocodile said, "Come, let me give you a meal, young friend." So he supplied the dog with food, and when he had eaten his fill, the dog said, "Come, carry me over, old friend." So the crocodile carried him; but half-way across he stopped and sank down into the water. Upon that the dog struggled a little, but presently got across; and as soon as he landed the crocodile emerged from the water. So the dog said, "You've broken the agreement, old fellow." "Why, wasn't I there below you all the same? For I want you to be able to swim." Nevertheless if the dog had not been able to swim he would have been drowned.
Then said the dog in his turn, "Come now, old fellow, do you go yonder with me to-morrow." "But where is the place of meeting, young friend?" "Yonder, at such-a-place," said the dog. "Agreed," replied the crocodile. On the morrow accordingly the dog took him some distance towards ground covered with the trailing tendrils of gourds. But it was to pay him out for what he had done. So the dog said, "I will give you a signal, old fellow; when I bark, then run off, for people are coming." The crocodile, be it said, had brought his wife and family with him. And when they all arrived the dog set food before them, but before the meal was half-way through he began to bark. So off they all ran, but some of the young ones were entangled in the trailing tendrils of the gourds and killed.
So when they got to the water, the crocodile said, "What kind of a dog are you? What's the meaning of this, fellow?" "There's no retribution, but the past returns,"[1] said the dog. The crocodile rejoined, "If my descendants and heirs do not destroy dogs from
- ↑ A native proverb.
