The Clever Owl

Once upon a time two sparrows lived in a great oak tree which stood on the bank of a wide river. Every year the sparrows built a new nest in one of the many hollows of this tree.

         Now this part of the river was the favorite swimming place of the Prince of Naroon Kot. After a hot, dusty ride on one of his fine horses, the Prince liked nothing better than to have a quiet swim in the cool water.





         One day the mother Sparrow laid some eggs. The sparrows were delighted. In the afternoon they sat happily on a branch and watched the Prince splashing about in the river. But when they returned to their nest they found that their eggs had disappeared. The were most upset and they flapped about making quite a noise. The father sparrow suddenly saw the tail of a long snake slithering into a hole at the base of a tree. He Knew What had happened.

         The Sparrows made such a noise that they woke their friend the owl. When the owl heard their sad story he said, 'Don't worry, my friends. You mustn't think of leaving your nest and going away because of that horrid snake. Get rid of him!'

         The sparrows looked puzzled. 'But how can we possibly do that? Please tell us. You are wise and can think of a plan.'

         The owl sat blinking his large round eyes. Then he spoke. 'Go to where the Prince has left his cloths,' he said. 'Pick up the Prince's gold necklace and drop it in the snake hole'. The sparrows thanked the owl and immediately flew towards the Prince's clothes. The father sparrow picked up the Prince's gold necklace while he mother sparrow flapped her wings and screeched loudly. When the guards heard the noise and saw the sparrow flying off with the Prince's necklace, they chased it. The sparrow dropped the necklace right into the snake hole and flew to a high branch. The snake was startled by the arrival of the necklace and poked its head out of the hole to see what was going on. Just as it did so, one of the guards killed it with his sword. That was the end of the snake.

         The sparrows lived happily ever after, thanks to their friend, the owl.