HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
and the serpent, enraged, exclaimed, 44 Well, this time see 
if vou are not the vvorse for it,” and then he struck the cro- 
codile, and wounded him on the face, and made him scream 
again. So he was conquered that time, and the goose got 
off; and all the fish came again, and said to the crocodile, 
44 How is it that you are beaten by yonder little serpent,— 
you are wise and powerful, and that little fellow comes 
and beats you !” Completely ashamed, again the crocodile 
hid himself in the water, and began to think by what 
means he might conquer this serpent upon the tree. 
After thinking a long time, the crocodile determined on 
boring a hole through the root of the tree; and for a whole 
week he kept on boring. Presently, a dog comes to drink; 
afterwards the goose ; also a man: but the crocodile keep¬ 
ing at his work, the serpent exulted in having intimi¬ 
dated his adversary, and said, 44 There’s nothing then so 
strong as I am.” The crocodile heard him, and laboured 
with all his might to finish boring at the root, one branch 
of which alone remained to cut. The crocodile then 
watched at the water-side a good while, when down came 
the dog to drink ;—the crocodile pursued him;—the ser¬ 
pent, as before, came to oppose him, calling out, 44 Let 
him alone there, lest you get the worst of it.”— 44 You,” 
says the crocodile, 44 do not fear god ; yonder dogs deceive 
us, and that’s the reason I pursue them; and as to people, 
I never touch them, unless they are guilty of witchcraft. 
I only eat the small things, (poultry, &c.;)—so just let me 
alone.” When the serpent heard that, he replied, 44 There 
is no god, for if there were, I should have had both hands 
and feet;—there is no god at all. But I’ll have your 
carcase to-day.” Then the dog and the serpent, toge° 
fher, made an attack on the crocodile; the crocodile got 
weaker, and dived into the water, when all the fishes 
