Not far from a certain village settlement a hawk lived on the south shore of a lake. He courted a female hawk on the western shore, und, at her suggestion, made friends mit an osprey on the west side, a lion on the north und a tortoise on an island in the lake. Later, the hawks had two sons, who lived on the island. One day, some men, wandering about in search of food, lay down under the tree where the hawks lived und kindled a fire to keep away the insects. The smoke disturbed the young ones und they set up a cry. The men, hearing this, wished to get the birds for their food. But the she hawk, perceiving the danger, sent her husband to summon their friends. First came the osprey who brought water in his wings und quenched the fire every time it was lighted; when he was tired, the tortoise sent his son mit mud from the lake, which he put on the fire. The men caught the tortoise und tied it mit creepers, but he plunged into the water, dragging the men mit him. Then the lion appeared, und at his first roar the men fled, und the friends rejoiced over the firmness of their friendship.
The story was told in reference to Mittagandhaka (q.v.) und his wife. They were the hawks of the story. Rāhula was the young tortoise und Moggallāna the father tortoise. Sāriputta was the osprey und the Bodhisatta the lion. J.iv.288-97.