The Crab And The Crane [Jataka Tales]
IN
the Long Ago there was a summer when very little rain fell.
All the Animals
suffered for want of water, but the Fishes suffered most of all.
In one pond full of Fishes, the water was very low indeed.
A Crane sat on the
bank watching the Fishes.
"What are you
doing?" asked a little Fish.
"I am thinking
about you Fishes there in the pond. It is so nearly dry," answered the
Crane.
"Yes,"
the Crane went on, "I was wishing I might do something for you. I know of
a pond in the deep woods where there is plenty of water."
"I
declare," said the little Fish, "you are the first Crane that ever
offered to help a Fish."
"That may
be," said the Crane, "but the water is so low in your pond. I could
easily carry you one by one on my back to that other pond where there is plenty
of water and food and cool shade."
"I don't believe
there is any such pond," said the little Fish. "What you wish to do
is to eat us, one by one."
"If you don't believe
me," said the Crane, "send with me one of the Fishes whom you can
believe. I'll show him the pond and bring him back to tell you all about
it."
A big Fish heard
the Crane and said, "I will go with you to see the pond—I may as well be
eaten by the Crane as to die here."
So the Crane put
the big Fish on his back and started for the deep woods.
Soon the Crane
showed the big Fish the pool of water. "See how cool and shady it is
here," he said, "and how much larger the pond is, and how full it
is!"
"Yes!"
said the big Fish, "take me back to the little pond and I'll tell the
other Fishes all about it." So back they went.
The Fishes all wanted
to go when they heard the big Fish talk about the fine pond which he had seen.
Then the Crane
picked up another Fish and carried it away. Not to the pool, but into the woods
where the other Fishes could not see them.
Then the Crane put
the Fish down and ate it. The Crane went back for another Fish. He carried it
to the same place in the woods and ate it, too.
This he did until
he had eaten all the Fishes in the pond.
The next day the
Crane went to the pond to see if he had left a Fish. There was not one left,
but there was a Crab on the sand.
"Little
Crab," said the Crane, "would you let me take you to the fine pond in
the deep woods where I took the Fishes?"
"But how could
you carry me?" asked the Crab.
"Oh,
easily," answered the Crane. "I'll take you on my back as I did the
Fishes."
"No, I thank
you," said the Crab, "I can't go that way. I am afraid you might drop
me. If I could take hold of your neck with my claws, I would go. You know we
Crabs have a tight grip."
The Crane knew
about the tight grip of the Crabs, and he did not like to have the Crab hold on
with his claws. But he was hungry, so he said:
"Very well,
hold tight."
And off went the
Crane with the Crab.
When they reached
the place where the Crane had eaten the Fishes, the Crane said:
"I think you
can walk the rest of the way. Let go of my neck."
"I see no
pond," said the Crab. "All I can see is a pile of Fish bones. Is that
all that is left of the Fishes?"
"Yes,"
said the Crane, "and if you will let go of my neck, your shell will be all
that will be left of you."
And the Crane put
his head down near the ground so that the Crab could get off easily.
But the Crab
pinched the Crane's neck so that his head fell off.
"Not my shell,
but your bones are left to dry with the bones of the Fishes," said the
Crab.
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