Native American Legends
The Frogs and the Crane
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
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!" when 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.
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