TRUE FRIENDSHIP

Once upon a time four friends lived in a forest. They were - a big fat mouse, a black crow, a happy-go-lucky tortoise and a beautiful deer with large sparkling eyes and a spotted skin. All the four lived near a big lake. The mouse lived in a cosy hole near the lake while the crow had his nest on a nearby tree. The tortoise lived in the lake itself while the deer had his home in a thick grove of trees not very far from the lake.
Every evening, all the four friends met beside the lake and had a jolly good time. Chatting, laughing and discussing things, they enjoyed themselves a lot.
One evening three smaller friends - the mouse, the crow and the tortoise reached the bank of the lake as usual. They expected their fourth friend - the deer - to reach soon. But it didn't happen. They waited for him for a long time but he did not turn up. So, all the three felt highly worried. "Anything can happen to our friend," said the mouse anxiously.

"Yes, he may have been killed by some beast of prey," said the tortoise.
"He may have been caught in a hunter's net," said the crow.
"We must try to find out what has happened to our friend," they thought. Then turning to the crow, the other two said, "Brother! only you can do this job in a short time."
"No doubt; here I go and promise to be back as soon as possible with the necessary information," replied the crow.
So, the crow flew away. Looking for the deer, he flew about calling out aloud, "Where are you, Mr.Deer?"

Suddenly the crow heard a faint and low voice," I am here, friend. Help me."

The crow flew in the direction of the voice and soon reached where the deer lay trapped in a hunter's net. He felt worried and said, "You have been caught in a net; only the mouse can help you out of it. So, I go and bring him here as soon as possible. Wait for us please."
"Look sharp, friend, lest the hunter should come and kill me," said the deer helplessly.
The crow flew back quickly and told his friends that the deer was caught in a hunter's net.
"I shall nibble the net at once and set out friend free. But how can I get to that place?" said the mouse in worry.
"Don't worry; I shall carry you there on my back. Come on; let's go," said the crow.
So, the mouse sat on the crow's back and away he flew as fast as he could. In no time, they reached the place where the deer lay trapped in the net.
The mouse got off the crow's back and set about nibbling the net with his sharp teeth. Soon the deer was free. He stood up and all the three friends felt very happy. They were just thinking of returning to the lake, when they saw the tortoise crawling towards them at a short distance.
"So, you have also come, Mr. Tortoise," said all the three of them in one voice.
"How could I stay back, when my friend was in danger?" replied the tortoise. Hearing this, all the four friends broke into laughter.
Now they thought of going back. But suddenly the crow saw the hunter coming at a distance.
There comes the wretch!" said the crow alerting his friends.

Seeing the hunter, all of them ran for safety. The crow flew onto a tree while the mouse hid himself in a nearby hole. As for the deer, he took shelter in a grove of thickets some distance away. But the poor tortoise, quite slowly as he could move, was not able to hide himself.
By now the hunter had reached the spot. Seeing the net nibbled in its different parts, he stroked his forehead and said to himself, "The deer has escaped. Some rodent has helped him be free. The cords of the net have been nibbled."
The hunter was cursing his lot when he suddenly saw the tortoise crawling towards a bush. His eyes sparkled and he shouted. "A tortoise! Where do you go? You will make a fine dinner for my family today?"
So saying, the hunter stepped forward, grabbed the tortoise quickly and put him into his bag. Then picking up his nibbled net, he moved away.
The crow was sitting on the branch of a nearby tree. He had seen the hunter putting the tortoise into his bag. So, he called out. "Come out quickly, O Deer! O Mouse! The hunter has taken away our friend - the tortoise."

The deer and the mouse lost no time to come out and all the three set about planning to have the tortoise freed from the hunter's grip.
The deer thought hard and at last hit upon a clever plan. He said to his friends, "Listen to what I say. I shall run fast and reach a point through which the hunter will pass. I shall pretend to be lame and move limping before his eyes. So, he will think of catching me. He will drop his bag on the ground and chase me. I shall lure him to a distance and then run away. By then, the mouse shall have cut open the bag with his teeth for the tortoise to come out."

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The mouse and the crow like the plan and assured the deer to carry it out with courage.
So, the deer ran away and began to graze grass at a place by which the hunter was to pass. As soon as the hunter saw the deer, he shouted, " A deer! The same deer!"
Hearing this, the deer pretended to walk with a limp and the hunter could not help chasing him. He threw the net and the bag on the ground and ran after the deer. The deer didn't try to gain much distance and thus lured the hunter away.

As for the mouse, he cut an opening in the side of the bag with his sharp teeth for the tortoise to come out. So, the tortoise got free and crawled to a nearby bush. The deer, then, ran fast leaving the hunter far behind. Tired and helpless, the hunter came back to pick up his bag and the net.
But his surprise knew no bounds to see the bag empty and cut open from one side. He was at a loss to follow how it had happened.
"What an unlucky day for me!" murmured the hunter sadly. Cursing his lot, he picked up his bag and the net and made for his home.

As for the four true friends, they looked at the poor hunter pacing fast towards his home as is was almost nightfall. They looked at one another with smiles on their lips and moved happily towards the lake.
So, Children! true friends never leave one another in lurch. They do their best when any of them is in trouble. Each of you should also try to be a sincere friend.