The Frog had a plan. He tied the Mouse's leg to his own with a
tough reed. Then into the pond he jumped, dragging his foolish
companion with him.

The Mouse soon had enough of it and wanted to return to shore;
but the treacherous Frog had other plans. He pulled the Mouse
down under the water and drowned him. But before he could untie
the reed that bound him to the dead Mouse, a Hawk came sailing
over the pond. Seeing the body of the Mouse floating on the
water, the Hawk swooped down, seized the Mouse and carried it
off, with the Frog dangling from its leg. Thus at one swoop he
had caught both meat and fish for his dinner.

_Those who seek to harm others often come to harm themselves
through their own deceit._

THE FOX AND THE CRAB

A Crab one day grew disgusted with the sands in which he lived.
He decided to take a stroll to the meadow not far inland. There
he would find better fare than briny water and sand mites. So off
he crawled to the meadow. But there a hungry Fox spied him, and
in a twinkling, ate him up, both shell and claw.

_Be content with your lot._

THE SERPENT AND THE EAGLE

A Serpent had succeeded in surprising an Eagle and had wrapped
himself around the Eagle's neck. The Eagle could not reach the
Serpent, neither with beak nor claws. Far into the sky he soared
trying to shake off his enemy. But the Serpent's hold only
tightened, and slowly the Eagle sank back to earth, gasping for
breath.

A Countryman chanced to see the unequal combat. In pity for the
noble Eagle he rushed up and soon had loosened the coiling
Serpent and freed the Eagle.

The Serpent was furious. He had no chance to bite the watchful
Countryman. Instead he struck at the drinking horn, hanging at
the Countryman's belt, and into it let fly the poison of his
fangs.

The Countryman now went on toward home. Becoming thirsty on the
way, he filled his horn at a spring, and was about to drink.
There was a sudden rush of great wings. Sweeping down, the Eagle
seized the poisoned horn from out his savior's hands, and flew
away with it to hide it where it could never be found.

_An act of kindness is well repaid._

[Illustration]

THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

A certain Wolf could not get enough to eat because of the
watchfulness of the Shepherds. But one night he found a sheep
skin that had been cast aside and forgotten. The next day,
dressed in the skin, the Wolf strolled into the pasture with the
Sh