XVI
The Kingfisher deceives the Owl
One day the Owl and the Kingfisher had a long discussion as to which of them could go longest without food. The Owl proposed that they should try for ten days, and the Kingfisher agreed to it.
They tied a rope across a stream, and both birds sat on the middle of it looking down into the water. On the third day the Kingfisher began to feel hungry, and observing a fish in the water just below him, he pretended to fall, caught and gobbled the fish, but as he came up to the surface of the water he cried out: “Oh, Uncle Owl, my head turned giddy, and I fell into the stream.”
The Owl replied: “Never mind, let us persevere with our contest.”
But the Kingfisher continued to have these giddy fits just as fish came under the perch, and the Owl with his sleepy eyes did not notice the fish. Before many days had passed the Owl’s body became thin, he lost his strength, fell into the stream and was drowned; but as for the Kingfisher he flew away, leaving his dead and cheated rival in the water.
XVII
How the Tortoise was punished for his Deceit
The Tortoise set his trap, and soon afterwards caught an antelope in it, whereupon he sat down and began to cry with a loud voice. The Jackal, hearing his cries, came and asked him what was the matter, and the Tortoise said: “There is an animal killed in my trap, and I have no one to take it out.”
The Jackal said: “Never mind, I’ll remove it for you.” So he took out the animal and set the trap again.