The traveller thanked him heartily, but he had other ends in view. He was on his way to the Ganges to purchase merchandise, and he proceeded thither with that inward satisfaction that arises from the accomplishment of a good deed. On the shores of the Ganges, in India, the traveller entered into trade, and his fortunes prospered. He soon found himself possessed of a large sum of money, and he was filled with a desire to see his native country. He returned by the same road, and, after travelling for some time, he found himself once more in the forest where, on a former occasion, his rope had been of such assistance to the unfortunates who had fallen into the pit. He remembered with pleasure the eloquent words of the grateful Rustem, and he regretted that he could not see his old friend. As for the three animals—the Monkey, the Lion, and the Snake—their remarks had made but little impression on his mind; he was only grateful to them for not having devoured him. While he was thinking of these things the rich traveller found himself surrounded with enemies even more ferocious than the animals he had rescued. He found himself in the midst of a band of thieves. The robbers seized the traveller, compelled him to dismount from his horse, took possession of his treasures, and were preparing to take his life, when the captain of the band remarked that it would be a useless murder. But the thieves bound the traveller at the foot of a tree, and left him to die there of hunger. The cries of the unfortunate traveller reached the ears of the big Monkey that had been rescued from the pitfall. His instinct recognized the voice of his deliverer, and he came to the rescue of the traveller. The Monkey seized the bonds in his strong teeth, and they soon fell apart, and it was not long before the traveller was free to go his way. But the grateful Monkey took him to his home, where fresh fruits appeased his hunger, and cool and pure water quenched his thirst. To the Monkey the traveller related his sad adventure, and the recital touched the heart of the grateful animal. The Monkey had lived in the forest so long that he was not only familiar with the habits of the robbers, but knew where their abode was. To that he made haste to go. He found the robbers asleep, with many treasures by their side. He seized bags of gold and silver and precious stones, together with a supply of rich apparel, and carried them to his benefactor.