mass of foliage at
the top of the tree, near the nest in which his wife had brought up
their children, before those children flew away to seek mates for
themselves. He too felt pretty secure as long as he remained up there;
but he had seen the cat prowling about below him more than once,
and was very sure that, if she should happen to catch sight of him
when he was off his guard seeking his prey and obliged to give all
his attention to what he was doing, she might spring out upon him
and kill him. Cats do not generally attack such big birds as owls,
but they will sometimes kill a mother sitting in her nest, as well
as the little ones, if the father is too far off to protect them.

The lizard loved to lie and bask in the sunshine, catching the flies
on which he lived, lying so still that they did not notice him, and
darting out his long tongue suddenly to suck them into his mouth. Yet
he hid from the owl and the cat, because he knew full well that,
tough though he was, they would gobble him up if they happened to be
hungry. He made his home amongst the roots on the south side of the
tree where it was hottest, but the mouse had his hole on the other side
amongst damp moss and dead leaves. The mouse was in constant fear of
the cat and the owl. He knew that both of them could see in the dark,
and he would have no chance of escape if they once caught sight of him.

1. Which of these four creatures do you think was most to be pitied?

2. Do you think that animals ever hate or love each as human
creatures do?

CHAPTER II

The lizard and the mouse could only get food in daylight; but the
lizard did not have to go far for the flies on which he lived, whilst
the mouse had a very dangerous journey to take to his favourite feeding
place. This was a barley field a short distance from the banyan tree,
where he loved to nibble the full ears, running up the stalks to get at
them. The mouse was the only one of the four creatures in the banyan
tree who did not feed on others; for, like the rest of his family,
he was a vegetarian, that is to say, he ate nothing but vegetables
and fruit.

Now the cat knew full well how fond the mouse was of the barley-field,
and she used to keep watch amongst the tall stems, creeping stealthily
about with her tail in the air and her green eyes glistening,
expecting any moment to see the poor little mouse darting hastily
along. The cat never dreamt that any danger could come to her, and
she trod