“But,” said the Lion, “I am going to take you on my back.” And he took her on his back, and begged the animals to stay where they were until they returned. Then he showed the little Hare how the fruit had fallen upon the leaf, making the noise that had frightened her, and she said: “Yes, I see—the Earth is _not_ falling in.” And the Lion said: “Shall we go back and tell the other animals?” And they went back. The little Hare stood before the animals and said: “The Earth is _not_ falling in.” And all the animals began to repeat this to one another, and they dispersed gradually, and you heard the words more and more softly: “The Earth is _not_ falling in,” etc., etc., etc., until the sound died away altogether. NOTE.—This story I have told in my own words, using the language I have found most effective for very young children. THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE Once upon a time, while Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life at the foot of Himalaya as a Monkey. He grew strong and sturdy, big of frame, well-to-do, and lived by a curve of the river Ganges in a forest haunt. Now at that time there was a Crocodile dwelling in the Ganges. The Crocodile’s mate saw the great frame of the monkey, and she conceived a longing for his heart to eat. So she said to her lord: “Sir, I desire to eat the heart of that great king of the monkeys!” “Good wife,” said the Crocodile, “I live in the water and he lives on dry land: how can we catch him?” “By hook or by crook,” she replied, “caught he must be. If I don’t get him, I shall die.” “All right,” answered the Crocodile, consoling her, “don’t trouble yourself. I have a plan; I will give you his heart to eat.” So when the Bodhisatta was sitting on the bank of the Ganges, after taking a drink of water, the Crocodile drew near, and said: “Sir Monkey, why do you live on bad fruits in this old familiar place? On the other side of the Ganges there is no end to the mango trees, and labuja trees, with fruit sweet as honey! Is it not better to cross over and have all kinds of wild fruit to eat?” “Lord Crocodile,” the Monkey made answer, “deep and wide is the Ganges: how shall I get across?” “If you will go, I will mount you on my back, and carry you over.” The Monkey trusted him, and agreed. “Come here, then,” said the other, “up on my back with you!” and up the Monkey climbed. But when the Crocodile had swum a little way, he plunged the Monkey under the water. “Good friend, you are letting me sink!” cried the Monkey. “What is that for?” Said the Crocodile, “You think I am carrying you out of pure good nature? Not a bit of it! My wife has a longing for your heart, and I want to give it to her to eat!” “Friend,” said the Monkey, “it is nice of you to tell me. Why, if our heart were inside us when we go jumping among the tree-tops, it would be all knocked to pieces!” “Well, where do you keep it?” asked the other.