Week 2 Reading Anthology

The Crane lived at the banks of a beautiful lake, where he would catch and eat fish. One day, the Crane offered to carry the Fish to another big and beautiful lake. The Fish was wary of the Crane's offer, so all of the fish refused. The Crane persisted, describing the lake's scenery. Still wary, the one-eyed Fish went with the Crane and confirmed his story to the other fish. The old fish went first, but shockingly, the Crane deceived him and gobbled him up once they arrived at the lake. The Crane continued his ruse for a few days, until he saw a Crab one day. The Crane gane him the same offer, but the Crab wasn't deceived. He decided to play along with the Crane's silly little game and the Crane carried him to the lake. However, when the Crane triumphantly revealed his ruse to the Crab, the Crab grabbed onto the Crane's neck tightly with his sharp, piercing claws. Defeated by the Crab's sharper and far more cunning mind, the Crane released him. Upon release, the crab cut off the Crane's head with his claws as punishment for his misdeeds. Then, the Crab lived happily ever after at the lake. 

The Cunning Crab 

Bibliography: The Giant Crab, and Other Tales from Old India by W.H.D Rouse https://sites.google.com/view/jatakas/crane-and-crab