Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/252

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THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE

NCE upon a time, Mr. Jackal was trotting along gaily, when he caught sight of a wild plum-tree laden with fruit on the other side of a broad deep stream. He could not get across anyhow, so he just sat down on the bank, and looked at the ripe luscious fruit until his mouth watered with desire.

Now it so happened that, just then, Miss Crocodile came floating down stream with her nose in the air.

‘Good morning, my dear!’ said Mr. Jackal politely ; “how beautiful you look to-day, and how charmingly you swim! Now, if 1 could only swim too, what a fine feast of plums we two friends might have over there together!’ And Mr, Jackal laid his paw on his heart, and sighed.

Now Miss Crocodile had a very inflammable heart, and when Mr, Jackal looked at her so admiringly, and spoke so sentimentally, she simpered and blushed, saying, ‘Oh! Mr. Jackal! how can you talk so? I could never dream of going out to dinner with you, unless-——unless———'

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