ONCE upon a time a peacock and a tortoise became great friends. The peacock lived on a tree by
the banks of the stream in which the tortoise had his home.
Everyday, after he had a drink of water, the peacock will dance near the stream
to the amusement of his
tortoise friend.
One unfortunate day, a bird-catcher caught the peacock and
was about to take him away to
the market. The unhappy bird begged his captor to allow him to bid his
friend, the tortoise good-bye.
The bird-catcher allowed him his request and
took him to the tortoise. The tortoise was greatly disturbed to see his friend a
captive.
The tortoise
asked the bird-catcher to let the peacock go in return for an expensive present.
The bird-catcher agreed. The tortoise then, dived into the water and in a few seconds
came up with a handsome pearl, to the great astonishment of the bird-catcher. As
this was beyond his exceptions, he let the peacock go immediately.
A short time after, the greedy man
came back and told the tortoise that he had not paid enough for the release of
his friend, and threatened to catch the peacock again unless an
exact match of the pearl is given to him. The tortoise, who had already advised
his friend, the peacock,
to leave the place to a distant jungle upon being set free, was greatly enraged
at the greed of this
man.
“Well,” said the tortoise, “if you insist on having another pearl like
it, give it to me and I
will fish you out an exact match for it.” Due to his greed, the bird-catcher
gave the pearl to the tortoise, who swam away with it saying, “I am no fool to take one and give two!” The
tortoise then disappeared into the water, leaving the bird-catcher without a
single pearl