The Female Lark

THE FEMALE LARK In a certain country a female Lark having laid two eggs on the path on which they go and come at a rock, remained sitting on the two with affection.

THE FEMALE LARK

In a certain country a female Lark having laid two eggs on the path on which they go and come at a rock, remained sitting on the two with affection.

One day, when a tusk elephant was going along the path the elephant placed its foot on the two eggs; so the two eggs were broken to pieces.

Owing to it the female Lark became at enmity with the tusk elephant, thinking that she must kill it; and one day having gone near the Frog the bird said, "Friend, laying two eggs on the path on which all go and come at such and such a rock, I remained sitting on the two with affection. [Although] so many persons went by there, nothing happened to those two eggs. One day the tusk elephant having come, trampled on my two eggs, and having broken them to pieces went away. On account of it, of what assistance will you be to me?"

Then the Frog says, "Ane! Friend, I will be of any assistance you tell me."

After that, the female Lark, having said, "It is good," and having gone from there, went near the Crow. Having gone there, she says to the Crow, "Ane! Friend, having laid two eggs on the path on which all go and come at such and such a rock, I remained sitting on the two with affection. [Although] so many persons went along the path, nothing happened to my two eggs. One day the tusk elephant having come, trampled on the two eggs, and having broken them to pieces went away. On account of it, of what assistance will you be to me?"

Then the Crow says, "Ane! Friend, I will be of any assistance you tell me."

After that, the female Lark said, "It is good."

At that time, there not being water in the water-holes there was much drought. One day the tusk elephant, being without water, is walking about seeking it.

The bird having seen it,--in the garden where the tusk elephant was walking there was a very deep pool like a tunnel,--the bird having gone near the Frog, said, "Friend, to-day the tusk elephant being without water is walking about seeking it. In the garden in which the tusk elephant is walking there is a pool like a tunnel. You go to the pool and cry out. Then the tusk elephant having said, 'There is water indeed,' will come there."

After that, the Frog came and cried out in the pool. Then the tusk elephant thought, "At the place where that Frog is crying out there will indeed be water." Thinking "At places where there is nothing Frogs do not cry out," it went there. When it was listening and looking, the tusk elephant fell into that pool which was like a tunnel. Well then, the tusk elephant cannot come ashore from there.

The Frog, having come ashore, says to the female Lark, "Look there. Friend, I was of another assistance [to you]. Now then, you look [after it yourself]." Having said it the Frog went to a tank.

After that, the female Lark having gone near the Crow, says to the Crow, "Ane! Friend, that tusk elephant which broke into bits my two eggs has fallen into the pool in such and such a garden. You go and pluck out its eyes, and pierce and pierce its face in two or three places with your bill, and come back."

After that, the Crow having come, plucked out the tusk elephant's two eyes and ate them; and having pierced and pierced the face in two or three places with its bill, came ashore, and said to the female Lark, "Look there. Friend, I was of another assistance [to you]. Now then, you look [after it yourself]." Having said it the Crow went away.

After that, the female Lark having gone near the Bee says to the Bee, "Friend, the Frog was of assistance to me, the Crow also was of assistance to me; only you have not yet been. The tusk elephant that broke to pieces my two eggs has fallen into the pool at such and such a garden, and his eyes have been plucked out. You go and beat [and sting] his head."

After that, the Bee having come and beaten the tusk elephant's head, the tusk elephant died in that very pool. Afterwards the Bee also went away.

On account of it, they still say in the form of verse:--

Being a handful merely, the Bush Lark Hen Got a tusker killed. Was it right, O Hen?