Atondido Stories
Him the crane took with him, let him go in the pond, showed
him the whole of it, brought him back, and let him go again
close to the other fish. And he told them all the glories of the
pond.
And when they heard what he said, they exclaimed, "All
right, sir! You may take us with you."
Then the crane took the old purblind fish first to the bank of
the other pond, and alighted in a Varana-tree growing on the
bank there. But he threw it into a fork of the tree, struck it with
his beak, and killed it; and then ate its flesh, and threw its bones
away at the foot of the tree. Then he went back and called out:
"I've thrown that fish in; let another one come."
And in that manner he took all the fish, one by one, and ate
them, till he came back and found no more!
But there was still a crab left behind there; and the crane thought
he would eat him too, and called out:
"I say, good crab, I've taken all the fish away, and put them
into a fine large pond. Come along. I'll take you too!"
"But how will you take hold of me to carry me along?"
"I'll bite hold of you with my beak."
"You'll let me fall if you carry me like that. I won't go with
you!"
"Don't be afraid! I'll hold you quite tight all the way."
Then said the crab to himself, "If this fellow once got hold of
fish, he would never let them go in a pond! Now if he should re-
ally put me into the pond, it would be capital; but if he doesn't—
then I'll cut his throat, and kill him!" So he said to him:
"Look here, friend, you won't be able to hold me tight
enough; but we crabs have a famous grip. If you let me catch
hold of you round the neck with my claws, I shall be glad to go
with you."
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