Once, an Eagle made her nest in the leafy branches at the top of an old oak tree. There in the nest, she laid her eggs, and soon the little eaglets hatched. Meanwhile, a Cat moved into a hole in the trunk of the tree; there she gave birth to her kittens. And a wild Sow, seeking shelter for her piglets from the rain and sun, brought her newborn litter of to live under the tree.

One day, the Cat climbed up to the top of the tree and whispered to the Eagle, ‘Sister, we are doomed. Do you see that Sow digging at the roots of the tree? She is planning to dig and dig till the tree topples over. She and her litter will then eat up our helpless babies!’ The poor Eagle believed the Cat, and terrified for the safety of her eaglets, decided to stand guard over her nest night and day.

The Cat then climbed down to the Sow and whispered in her ear, ‘Dear sister, listen to me: your children are in grave danger. Can you see how still the Eagle sits upon the branch and watches you? She is planning to snatch your piglets away the moment you go out to search for food!’ The Sow looked up to see the eagle sitting amongst the branches, and believed the Cat. Terrified, she decided she would never leave her piglets alone.

Now the Cat, her aim achieved, crept back into her snug little hole and curled up with her kittens. When night fells, she stole out of the hole and eating her fill of mice and little night creatures, she carried back food for her kittens. The Cat and her kittens, their tummies full, slept through the rest of the night and the day.

Several days and nights passed in this way: the Eagle and the Sow refused to leave their children even for a few minutes, even to hunt for food, and stood guard day and night, while the Cat stole out secretly every night and filled herself and her kittens with food. The Eagle and the Sow grew weaker by the day without food, as did their children, till finally they all died of hunger, providing the Cat and her kittens with a feast.

A duplicitous and double-tongued person can cause great harm.