The Crane and the Crab

Once, an old crane lived near a large pond. Because he was old, he could no longer catch fish easily. He grew thin and weak. One day, he came up with a cunning plan. He sat by the edge of the pond with a very sad face. A large crab crawled up to him and asked, "Friend Crane, why are you not catching fish today? Why do you look so miserable?" The crane sighed and said, "Alas! I have heard that there will be no rain for twelve years. This pond will dry up, and all my friends—the fish, the frogs, and the crabs—will die. I am mourning for you all." The news spread quickly. The terrified fish begged the crane to help them. The crane said, "There is a large, deep lake not far from here. I can carry you there one by one in my beak." The fish agreed. Every day, the crane would pick up a fish, fly to a nearby hill, and eat it. This went on for many days until it was the crab's turn. As the crane flew toward the hill, the crab looked down and saw a pile of fish bones. He realized the crane's trick! Instead of panicking, the crab quickly wrapped his sharp claws around the crane’s neck and squeezed hard. The crane fell to the ground, and the crab crawled back to the pond to tell the other fish the truth.