'
'Then King Jewel-plume would be a good ally,' observed the Swan-king.
'Doubtless!' said the Goose, 'but elated with victory, he will hardly
listen to the Vulture's counsel; we must make him do it.'
'How?' asked the King.
'We will cause our dependent, the King of Ceylon, Strong-bill the Stork,
to raise an insurrection in Jambudwipa.'
'It is well-conceived,' said the King. And forthwith a Crane, named
Pied-body, was dismissed with a secret message to that Rajah.
'In course of time the first Crane, who had been sent as a spy, came
back, and made his report. He related that the Vulture had advised his
Sovereign to summon Night-cloud, the Crow, and learn from him regarding
King Silver-sides' intentions. Night-cloud attended accordingly.
'Crow!' asked King Jewel-plume, 'what sort of a Monarch is the Rajah
Silver-sides?'
'Truthful, may it please you,' replied the Crow; 'and therewithal noble
as Yudisthira himself.'
'And his Minister, the Goose?'
'Is a Minister unrivalled, my Liege,' said the Crow-king.
'But how then didst thou so easily deceive them?'
'Ah! your Majesty,' said the Crow, 'there was little credit in that.
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