In the heart of the woods
there lay a cool, green pond. The shores of the pond
were set with ranks of tall bulrushes that waved
crisply in the wind, and in the shallow bays there
were fleets of broad water lily leaves. Among the
rushes and reeds and in the quiet water there dwelt a
large tribe of Frogs.
On
every warm night of spring, the voices of the Frogs
arose in a cheerful chorus. Some voices were low and
deep---these were the oldest and wisest of the Frogs;
at least, they were old enough to have learned
wisdom. Some were high and shrill, and these were the
voices of the little Frogs who did not like to be
reminded of the days when they had tails and no legs.
"Kerrump!
kerrump! I'm chief of this pond!" croaked a very
large bullfrog, sitting in the shade of a water lily
leaf.
"Kerrump!
kerrump! I'm chief of this pond!" replied a
hoarse voice from the opposite bank.
"Kerrump!
kerrump! I'm chief of this pond!" boasted a
third old Frog from the furthest shore of the pond.
Now
a long-legged white Crane was standing near by, well
hidden by the coarse grass that grew at the water's
edge. He was very hungry that evening, and when he
heard the deep voice of the first Bullfrog he stepped
briskly up to him and made a quick pass under the
broad leaf with his long, cruel bill. The old Frog
gave a frightened croak and kicked violently in his
efforts to get away, while over the quiet pond,
splash! splash! went the startled little Frogs into
deep water.
The
Crane almost had him, when something cold and slimy
wound itself about one of his legs. He drew back for
a second, and the Frog got safely away! But the Crane
did not lose his dinner after all, for about his leg
was curled a large black water snake, and that made a
fair meal.
Now
he rested awhile on one leg, and listened. The first
Frog was silent, but from the opposite bank the
second Frog croaked boastfully:
"Kerrump!
kerrump! I'm chief of this pond!"
The
Crane began to be hungry again. He went round the
pond without making any noise, and pounced upon the
second Frog, who was sitting up in plain sight,
swelling his chest with pride, for he really thought
now that he was the sole chief of the pond.
The
Crane's head and most of his long neck disappeared
under the water, and all over the pond the little
Frogs went splash! splash! into the deepest holes to
be out of the way.
Just
as he had the Frog by one hind leg, the Crane saw
something that made him let go, flap his broad wings
and fly awkwardly away to the furthest shore. It was
a mink, with his slender brown body and wicked eyes,
and he had crept very close to the Crane, hoping to
seize him at his meal! So the second Frog got away
too; but he was so dreadfully frightened that he
never spoke again.
After
a long time the Crane got over his fright and he
became very hungry once more. The pond had been still
so long that many of the Frogs were singing their
pleasant chorus, and above them all there boomed the
deep voice of the third and last Bullfrog, saying:
"Kerrump!
kerrump! I'm chief of this pond!"
The
Crane stood not far from the boaster, and he
determined to silence him once for all. The next time
he began to speak, he had barely said
"Kerrump!" whe the Crane had him by the
leg. He croaked and struggled in vain, and in another
moment he would have gone down the Crane's long
throat. But just then a Fox crept up behind the Crane
and seized him! The Crane let go the Frog and was
carried off screaming into the woods for the Fox's
supper. So the third Frog got away; but he was badly
lamed by the Crane's strong bill, and he never dared
to open his mouth again.
It
is not a wise thing to boast too loudly.
