friend ! Your brother's wife is very anxious to see you; will you come with me to our house ? " The monkey accepted the invitation, and without any hesitation mounted the crocodile's back, and they started on their journey. On the way the monkey became a little anxious, and said: " It has occurred to me how am I to find my way back ? " The crocodile recognized the monkey's difficulty, and explained carefully to him the way home. The monkey replied, ' My good crocodile ! It is of no use your telling me all this, I am sure I should not recollect it. Besides, I think my affection for you has something lessened, so it is of no use my going home with you." The crocodile rejoined, " Well: where shall I put you down ?" " My dear friend ! " answered the monkey, " haven't you heard the saying: " My heart is always in the fig tree: my desire always for the sacred fig '? If you know what that means you will take me back at once."
The stupid crocodile at these words turned round and took the monkey back to the river bank, and as soon as they had got there, the monkey jumped off the crocodile's back, and scrambled up into the tree. When he was well out of reach, he turned round and said with a jeer, " Go along with you ! as long as I am up here I am out of your clutches.
