Atondido Stories
He fell into this well. I followed him, but instead of falling on
the third storey where he is now lying, I fell into the second. I
am going away now to see my father. Whenever you are in any
difficulty just think of me. I will be there by your side to assist
you by all possible means." So saying, the Nagaraja glided away
in zigzag movements, and was out of sight in a moment.
The poor son of the Soothsayer, who was now almost dying
of thirst, let down his vessel for a third time. The rat caught hold
of it, and without discussing he lifted up the poor animal at
once. But it would not go away without showing its gratitude:
"Oh, life of my life! My benefactor! I am the king of rats. When-
ever you are in any calamity just think of me. I will come to you,
and assist you. My keen ears overheard all that the tiger-king
told you about the goldsmith, who is in the fourth storey. It is
nothing but a sad truth that goldsmiths ought never to be trust-
ed. Therefore, never assist him as you have done to us all. And if
you do, you will suffer for it. I am hungry; let me go for the pre-
sent." Thus taking leave of his benefactor, the rat, too, ran away.
Gangazara for a while thought upon the repeated advice given
by the three animals about releasing the goldsmith: "What
wrong would there be in my assisting him? Why should I not re-
lease him also?" So thinking to himself, Gangazara let down the
vessel again. The goldsmith caught hold of it, and demanded
help. The Soothsayer's son had no time to lose; he was himself
dying of thirst.
Therefore he lifted the goldsmith up, who now began his sto-
ry. "Stop for a while," said Gangazara, and after quenching his
thirst by letting down his vessel for the fifth time, still fearing
that some one might remain in the well and demand his assis-
tance, he listened to the goldsmith, who began as follows: "My
dear friend, my protector, what a deal of nonsense these brutes
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