Atondido Stories
falling on an anthill nearby and the ants in great excitement were
running hither and thither with their eggs.
"Yirik!" they cried. "Help! Help, or we shall all be burned to
death, we and our young ones in the eggs!"
Yirik instantly dismounted, cut down the burning bush, and put
out the fire.
"Thank you, Yirik, thank you!" the ants said. "Your kindness
to us this day will not go unrewarded. If ever you are in trouble,
think of us and we will help you."
As Yirik rode on through the forest, he came upon two fledg-
ling ravens lying by the path.
"Help us, Yirik, help us!" they cawed. "Our father and mother
have thrown us out of the nest in yonder tall fir tree to fend for
ourselves. We are young and helpless and not yet able to fly.
Give us some meat to eat or we shall perish with hunger."
The sight of the helpless fledglings touched Yirik to pity. He
dismounted instantly, drew his sword, and killed his horse.
Then he fed the starving birds the meat they needed.
"Thank you, Yirik, thank you!" the little ravens croaked. "You
have saved our lives this day. Your kindness will not go unre-
warded. If ever you are in trouble, think of us and we will help
you."
Yirik left the young ravens and pushed on afoot. The path
through the forest was long and wearisome. It led out finally on
the seashore.
On the beach two fishermen were quarreling over a big fish
with golden scales that lay gasping on the sand.
"It's mine, I tell you!" one of the men was shouting. "It was
caught in my net, so of course it's mine!"
To this the other one shouted back:
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