alling, falling, falling, brim the chatty o'er;
Wisdom comes in little lessons--little gains make largest store.'

Moved by these reflections Well-to-do loaded a cart with wares of all
kinds, yoked two bulls to it, named Lusty-life and Roarer, and started
for Kashmir to trade. He had not gone far upon his journey when in
passing through a great forest called Bramble-wood, Lusty-life slipped
down and broke his foreleg. At sight of this disaster Well-to-do fell
a-thinking, and repeated--

'Men their cunning schemes may spin--
God knows who shall lose or win.'

Comforting himself with such philosophy, Well-to-do left Lusty-life
there, and went on his way. The Bull watched him depart, and stood
mournfully on three legs, alone in the forest. 'Well, well,' he thought,
'it is all destiny whether I live or die:--

'Shoot a hundred shafts, the quarry lives and flies--not due to death;
When his hour is come, a grass-blade hath a point to stop his breath.'

As the days passed by, and Lusty-life picked about in the tender forest
grass, he grew wonderfully well, and fat of carcase, and happy, and
bellowed about the wood as though it were his own. Now, the reigning
monarch of the forest was King Tawny-hide the Lion, who ruled over the
whole country absolutely, by right of having deposed everybody else. Is
not might right?--

'Robes were none, nor oil of unction, when the King of Beasts was
crowned:--
'Twas his own fierce roar proclaimed him, rolling all his kingdom
round.'

One morning, his Majesty, being exceedingly thirsty, had repaired to the
bank of the Jumna to drink water, and just as he was about to lap it,
the bellow of Lusty-life, awful as the thunder of the last day, reached
the imperial ears. Upon catching the sound the King retreated in
trepidation to his own lair, without drinking a drop, and stood there in
silence and alarm revolving what it could mean. In this position he was
observed by the sons of his minister, two jackals named Karataka and
Damanaka, who began to remark upon it.

'Friend Karataka,' said the last,'what makes our royal master slink away
from the river when he was dying to drink?'

'Why should we care?' replied Karataka. 'It's bad enough to serve him,
and be neglected for our pains--

'Oh, the bitter salt of service!--toil, frost, fire, are not so keen:--
Half such heavy penance bearing, tender consciences were clean.'

'Nay, fri