On the river's bank a cottonwood-tree grew, and a young Parrot lived
in its branches. The storm pulled up this tree, and it fell into the
river. The heavy rain beat down the Parrot when it tried to fly, and
it could not go far. Looking down it saw the log and flew down to
rest. Now there were four on the log floating down stream together.
Just around the bend in the river a certain poor man had built himself
a hut. As he walked to and fro late at night listening to the storm,
he heard the loud cries of the prince. The poor man said to himself:
"I must get that man out of the water. I must save his life." So he
shouted: "I will save you! I will save you!" as he swam out in the
river.
[Illustration]
Soon he reached the log, and pushing it by one end, he soon pushed it
into the bank. The prince jumped up and down, he was so glad to be
safe and sound on dry land.
Then the poor man saw the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot, and carried
them to his hut. He built a fire, putting the animals near it so they
could get dry. He took care of them first, because they were the
weaker, and afterwards he looked after the comfort of the prince.
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