It was beginning to grow dark when the Crow, whose name was Sharp-sense, saw the two coming home together. He asked the Deer who his companion was.
"It is a Jackal who wishes to know us," answered the Deer.
"You must be careful with whom you become friendly," said Sharp-sense. "You know
'To folks by no one known house-room deny:—
The Vulture housed the Cat, and thence did die.'
"How was that?" asked the Deer and the Jackal.
"I will tell you," replied the Crow.
"On the banks of the River Ganges is a cliff called Vulture-Crag, upon which was a large fig-tree. It was hollow, and inside it dwelt an old Vulture who had lost both eyes and talons, and who was kept alive with food given him by the friendly birds that roosted in the tree.
"One day, when the parent birds were
