The Jade Story Book/Chapter 13
THE CRANE AND THE CRAB
There was a small lake in Malwa called Lily-Water, and on its bank one day stood a Crane who seemed to be lost in thought.
It was the dry season and the water was low in the pond, in which were a good many fish. Now the Crane was very fond of fish, and he was trying to figure out a plan whereby he could satisfy his appetite.
At last he went to the water's edge, and there he sat down. He assumed a most dejected look, and appeared to be so miserable that a Crab, who had been watching him, asked him why he was so down-hearted.
"It is because I am thinking of all who live in this pond that I am so sad," said the Crane.
"Why should that be the reason?" asked the Crab.
"I will tell you," said the Crane. "This morning I heard the fishermen who live near here say that they meant to catch every fish that swims in this water. Now I love a dish of fish myself, and the few that I should take would make but little difference among so many. And although if the fish in this pond are all captured there would be none left for me to subsist upon, it breaks my heart to think of the fate that is in store for them. Therefore am I so sad."
Now some of the fishes overheard what the Crane said to the Crab, and they at once called a general meeting. One of them said: "In this case the Crane's interests are the same as ours, because, while we furnish the food which keeps him alive there are many of us left, but when the fishermen capture us we shall die. Let us therefore confer with the Crane."
This they decided to do, and so they went to him in a body.
"Good Crane," they said, "what course is there for safety?"
"The only thing to do is to go elsewhere," said the Crane. "This can easily be done, for if you wish I will carry you one by one to another pool."
This the trembling fishes begged him to do, that is, all but one of them, who said:
"It is most unusual that a crane should take any thought for fishes, and I think that you mean to eat us, one by one."
"That I do not," said the Crane. "If you do not believe what I say, send one of your number with me, and he shall come back and tell you that I am to be trusted."
They thought this was all right, and so selected their sharpest fish, one whom they considered could not be outwitted, and handed him over to the Crane.
The Crane took him in his bill and let him go in the other pool, and he showed the fish all over it. Then he carried him back to the others who were entirely satisfied, and said they were ready to go with him.
Then the Crane took them, one after another, and having eaten them, returned to report that he had safely deposited each in the pond.
At last only the Crab was left, and he asked to be taken, too. Now the Crane coveted the tender flesh of the Crab, and perhaps the latter saw a greedy look in his eyes. At any rate, when the Crane went to take hold of him with his beak, he said: "You cannot carry me like that, for I should certainly fall."
The Crane told him not to fear, that he would be perfectly safe. But the Crab thought to himself: "If he once got hold of a fish, I doubt very much if he would really let it go into the pond. He shall carry me, but in such a way that I shall be safe." So he said:
"Friend Crane, you cannot hold me tight enough in your bill, so I will hold on to you with my claws, and you can carry me that way."
The Crane thought that would be all right, and so the other held on to his neck with his claws, and off they went.
They soon reached the spot where the Crane had eaten the fish, and the Crab saw that it was covered with fishbones.
"This is not the pond," said the Crab; "please take me to it at once."
"You will never see another pond," replied the Crane, who thought that it would be the easiest thing in the world to shake the Crab from his neck. "I am now going to eat you, just as I have eaten every one of the fish, whose bones you can see if you look."
"Do you think I am as stupid as those fish?" asked the Crab. Then he gave the Crane's neck such a squeeze with his claws that the Crane almost died.
"That is just to remind you of what will happen if you don't take me to the pond at once," said the Crab.
The Crane now trembled with fear, and flew at once to the edge of the pond, and there, before entering the water the Crab tightened his grip so that the Crane's neck was cut clear through.