BED-TIME TALES FROM INDIA
1. THE WILY FOX.
Long long ago, a lake was inhabited by a crocodile and a crab. The other inhabitants being mostly fish, plenty of them. The crocodile and the crab were very close friends. The lake was in the middle of a forest and both the friends to feast on fish daily.
The two friend's staple diet being fish and fish only resulted in the number of fish in the lake. This led to the crocodile thinking that it would catch the animals that came to the lake for watering. Catching a prey every day was improbable, as the animals of the jungle knew about the crocodile living in it and was always careful.
The crab and the crocodile were really worried when the crocodile had an idea. He said to the crab, 'I will pretend to be dead. You can go and spread this news in the forest. Once the animals come to know that I am no more, they will come here to drink water but will be less careful about avoiding me. It will thus be easy to catch them.
Long long ago, a lake was inhabited by a crocodile and a crab. The other inhabitants being mostly fish, plenty of them. The crocodile and the crab were very close friends. The lake was in the middle of a forest and both the friends to feast on fish daily.
The two friend's staple diet being fish and fish only resulted in the number of fish in the lake. This led to the crocodile thinking that it would catch the animals that came to the lake for watering. Catching a prey every day was improbable, as the animals of the jungle knew about the crocodile living in it and was always careful.
The crab and the crocodile were really worried when the crocodile had an idea. He said to the crab, 'I will pretend to be dead. You can go and spread this news in the forest. Once the animals come to know that I am no more, they will come here to drink water but will be less careful about avoiding me. It will thus be easy to catch them.
The crab at once set off to spread the news of the crocodile's death to all the animals living in the Forest.
His first meeting turned out to be the sly fox. The crab told the fox about the crocodile's death. "Isn't this excellent news? The animals now will not have to worry about endangering their lives when they go to the lake to drink water. You may tell whomsoever you meet about this so that all of them can come for a safe drink from the lakes sweet water.
The wily fox, used to living in the forest by his wits, smelled something amiss, he remarked, " Poor crocodile, let me come and see for myself his dead body."
The crab took the fox to the crocodile, lying motionless close to the bank of the lake. "Friend Crab, he asked, " when did the crocodile die?'
His first meeting turned out to be the sly fox. The crab told the fox about the crocodile's death. "Isn't this excellent news? The animals now will not have to worry about endangering their lives when they go to the lake to drink water. You may tell whomsoever you meet about this so that all of them can come for a safe drink from the lakes sweet water.
The wily fox, used to living in the forest by his wits, smelled something amiss, he remarked, " Poor crocodile, let me come and see for myself his dead body."
The crab took the fox to the crocodile, lying motionless close to the bank of the lake. "Friend Crab, he asked, " when did the crocodile die?'
'A little while ago," replied the crab, " I ran to the forest to spread the good news even as he was on the verge of death."
"Funny," said the fox, " since he died only a few minutes ago his tail should still be twitching." On hearing this the foolish crocodile moved his tail.
The wily fox then asked the crab"; can any dead animal move its tail? A dead animal can neither move nor hear. The crocodile is alive and he also heard me and that is why he moved his tail. Well Mr. Crocodile your trick did not work did it? Ha! Ha!"
Saying this the fox moved away to the forest and told all the animals in it about the tick the two friends wanted to play upon all the animals.
The two friends thus had to keep on eating fish till they were exhausted and then…………
"Funny," said the fox, " since he died only a few minutes ago his tail should still be twitching." On hearing this the foolish crocodile moved his tail.
The wily fox then asked the crab"; can any dead animal move its tail? A dead animal can neither move nor hear. The crocodile is alive and he also heard me and that is why he moved his tail. Well Mr. Crocodile your trick did not work did it? Ha! Ha!"
Saying this the fox moved away to the forest and told all the animals in it about the tick the two friends wanted to play upon all the animals.
The two friends thus had to keep on eating fish till they were exhausted and then…………
