Going to where the Rat lived, the king called, "Rat!" Out came the
Rat, and bowing low to the king, the Rat said, "Take all the money
buried here and have your servants carry it away."

"I will," said the king, and he asked the Rat to go with him and the
Snake.

Then the king went to where the Parrot lived, and called, "Parrot!"
The Parrot flew down to the king's feet and said, "O King, shall I and
my family and my friends gather choice rice for you?"

"Not now, not until rice is needed," said the king. "Will you come
with us?" The Parrot was glad to join them.

[Illustration]

So with the gold, and the money, and with the Snake, the Rat, and the
Parrot as well, the king went back to the city.

The king had the gold and the money hidden away in the palace. He had
a tube of gold made for the Snake to live in. He had a glass box made
for the Rat's home, and a cage of gold for the Parrot. Each had the
food he liked best of all to eat every day, and so these four lived
happily all their lives.




XX