WoodPecker's Luck
In a certain forest lived a woodpecker. While flying from one tree to another, he saw a lion rolling on the ground and crying in pain. Curious, the woodpecker perched on the branch of a nearby tree and asked the lion, "What ails you,O hero of the beasts?" "I was feeding upon an animal, when a small piece of bone got stuck in my throat, It is giving me much pain. For two days now I have not eaten a morsel, have not slept a wink. What do I do?" said the lion. The woodpecker hopped down to a still lower branch. He took pity on the great beast and said, "Dear lion, I feel like going to your rescue. But you can well imagine what prevents me from doing so. It is too much of a risk to enter your mouth!" "Must you feel so, sweet bird? A lion though I am, don't I have a heart? How can I harm one who would save me from my deep agony?" asked the lion. "Well then, let me see what I can do for you," said the woodpecker. The lion sat with his mouth agape. The bird, before entering his mouth, placed a chunk of wood between the two rows of his teeth. He did so to be sure that the lion would not be able to snap his mouth even if he wanted to do so. The bird slowly entered the lion's mouth and found out where the bone was. With his iron beak, he took hold of the bone and removed it with great care.
Then he struck down the wood that separated the lion's jaws and went out at lightning speed. The lion did not cry anymore. He closed his eyes and rested peacefully. The woodpecker left for his destination, happy that he had befriended the lion. Days passed. One summer day the woodpecker found no food for himself. While flying about, he saw the lion devouring a buffalo. "Here is my friend, the lion. Surely, he wouldn't grudge me a little meat!" thought the bird. "Hello, great beast, do you recognize me?" he asked from the top of a plant. "I do," said the lion raising his head for a moment. Then he concentrated on his food again. "What about throwing a little meat at me?" asked the bird. "I don't have enough meat to go throwing about!" said the lion. "But, sir, did I not save you from the acute pain you were having the other day?" asked the bird. "For that, did I not let you go out of my mouth unharmed? How many creatures are there in this wide world who can claim to have entered a lion's mouth and come out safe?" asked the lion in a huff. The woodpecker flew away saying, "Perhaps I am the only creature to claim that luck. But I wonder if I would have been there to claim that if I had not placed the wood between your jaws!". The woodpecker decided to stay away from wicked minds from then on.
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