When there was only one left, the crocodile came to see how the lessons were getting on.  The sight of him put the jackal in a terrible fright; but he answered the crocodile that the children were making very fair progress.  “Well, I want to see them.  Come along and let us have a look at them.”

This was awkward for the jackal, but his wits did not desert him; he ran on ahead to the pool and going into the water, caught the one little crocodile which remained, and held it up, saying “See here is one.”  Then he popped it under the water and brought it up again and said “See, here’s another” and this he did five times and persuaded the crocodile that he had seen his five children.

The crocodile pretended to be satisfied but he was not quite easy in his mind and would have preferred to see all the five little ones at once.  However, he said nothing, but made up his mind to watch the jackal; so the next day he hid himself and waited to see what happened.  He saw the jackal take the little crocodile out of the water and begin the lesson—­“Ibor obor iakoro.”  Then when the unfortunate pupil still failed to pronounce the words, the jackal began to give it cuffs and blows.  At this sight the crocodile ran forward and caught the jackal, crying out “Show me my other four little ones; is this the way you treat my children?” The jackal had no answer to give and the crocodile soon put an end to his life and took back his one remaining child to the tank where he lived.

CXVIII.  The Bullfrog and the Crab.

There was a Raja who had no head and there was a Tiger who had no tail.  One day they met in a nullah.  “Here’s a fine dinner for me” said the Tiger.  “Here’s a fine dinner for me!” said the Raja.  At this retort the Tiger’s courage oozed away; and he did not dare to go any nearer; but he called out “Well, if I am to be your dinner, come and catch me:”  and the Raja called out “If I am to be your dinner, come and catch me.”  So they stood challenging each other, but neither took a step forward.  Then the Tiger became abusive and called out, “What have you done with your head?” the Raja retorted “What is a tiger without a tail?  You also are short of a member.  I may have no head but I have more legs than you.”  The Tiger could think of no retort to make to this and so said “Come, don’t let us quarrel any more; let us be friends; I live near here, where do you live?”

“My home is also near here.”

“Then we are neighbours:  there is no reason why we should be enemies.”

“Who knows what you are at?” answered the Raja:  “for you are pretending that you cannot see aright, but it is quite true that we are neighbours.”  “You are right,” said the other, “I admit that I did wrong, and I bow down before you.”  So they saluted each other and the Tiger said “Let’s have a song to show what good friends we are:  and he sang (to the rice planting tune):