..續本文上一頁ful new pond. The little one was sure the helpful crane was about to drop him into the wonderful pond. But instead, the crane suddenly killed him, gobbled up his flesh, and let the bones fall to the ground.

　　The crane returned to the old pond, brought the next little fish to the same tree, and ate him in the same way. Likewise, one by one, he gobbled up every last fish!

　　He became so stuffed with fish meat that he had trouble flying back to the little pond. He saw that there were no more fish left for him to trick and eat. Then he noticed a lonely crab crawling along the muddy shore. And he realized that he was still not completely satisfied!

　　So he walked over to the crab and said, "My dear crab, I have kindly carried all the fish to a wonderful big pond not far from here. Why do you wish to remain here alone

　　 If you simply do as the fish have done, and let me pick you up in my beak, I will gladly take you there. For your own good, please trust me."

　　But the crab thought, "There is no doubt this over-stuffed crane has eaten all those fish. His belly is so full he can hardly stand up straight. He definitely cannot be trusted! If I can get him to carry me to a new pond and put me in it, so much the better. But if he tries to eat me, I will have to cut off his head with my sharp claws."

　　Then the crab said, "My friend crane, I am afraid I am much too heavy for you to carry in your beak. You would surely drop me along the way. Instead, I will grab onto your neck with my eight legs, and then you can safely carry me to my new home."

　　The crane was so used to playing tricks on others, that he did not imagine he would be in any danger -even though the crab would be grasping him by the throat. Instead he thought, "Excellent! This will give me a chance to eat the sweet meat of this foolish trusting crab."

　　So the crane permitted the crab to grab onto his neck with all eight legs. In addition, he grasped the crane”s neck with his sharp claws. He said, "Now kindly take me to the new pond."

　　The foolish crane, with his neck in the clutches of the crab, flew to the same big tree next to the new pond.

　　Then the crab said, "Hey you stupid crane, have you lost your way

　　 You have not taken me to the pond. Why don”t you take me to the shore and put me in

　　"

　　The crane said, "Who are you calling stupid

　　 I don”t have to take that from you. You”re not my relative. I suppose you thought you tricked me into giving you a free ride. But I”m the clever one. Just look at all those fish bones under this tree. I”ve eaten all the fish, and now I”m going to eat you too, you stupid crab!"

　　The crab replied, "Those fish were eaten because they were foolish enough to trust you. But no one would trust you now. Because you tricked the fish, you have

　　become so conceited you think you can trick anyone. But you can”t fool me. I have you by the throat. So if one dies, we both die!"

　　Then the crane realized the danger he was in. He begged the crab, "Oh my lord crab, please release me. I have learned my lesson. You can trust me. I have no desire to eat such a handsome crab as you."

　　Then he flew down to the shore and continued, "Now please release me. For your own good, please trust me."

　　But this old crab had been around. He realized the crane could not be trusted no matter what he said. He knew that if he let go of the crane, he would be eaten for sure. So he cut through his neck with his claws, just like a knife through butter! And the crane”s head fell on the ground. Then the crab crawled safely into the wonderful pond.

　　Meanwhile, the inquisitive fairy had also come to the new pond and seen all that had happened. Sitting on the very top of the big tree, he said for all the gods to hear:

　　"The one who lived by tricks and lies,

　　No longer trusted now he dies."

　　The moral is: The trickster who can”t be trusted, has played his last trick.

《The Crane and the Crab [Trickery]》全文閱讀結束。