Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/111

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JACKAL, DEER, AND CROW
95

the owner of the field saw him, set a snare, and the next day the Deer was caught in it.

Very soon Small-wit (who had been watching all the time) came along, and said to himself, "Oho! my scheme worked well. The Deer will furnish me with some very fine meals."

Just then the Deer saw him and called out, "Friend, please gnaw the strings and set me free."

But Small-wit only walked around the snare, examining it carefully. "It certainly will hold,' said he to himself.

To the Deer he said, "These strings are very strong, and this is a fast day for me, so I cannot bite them. To-morow I will do what I can for you." With this he went away.

Very soon the Crow, who had been looking for his friend, came along, and seeing his sorry plight, asked him how this all happened.

The Deer replied that this came through disregarding the advice of a friend.

"Where is that rascally Jackal," asked the Crow.