Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/128

112 near here say that they meant to catch every fish that swims in this water. Now I love a dish of fish myself, and the few that I should take would make but little difference among so many. And although if the fish in this pond are all captured there would be none left for me to subsist upon, it breaks my heart to think of the fate that is in store for them. Therefore am I so sad."

Now some of the fishes overheard what the Crane said to the Crab, and they at once called a general meeting. One of them said: "In this case the Crane's interests are the same as ours, because, while we furnish the food which keeps him alive there are many of us left, but when the fishermen capture us we shall die. Let us therefore confer with the Crane."

This they decided to do, and so they went to him in a body.

"Good Crane," they said, "what course is there for safety?"

"The only thing to do is to go elsewhere," said the Crane. "This can easily be done, for if you wish I will carry you one by one to another pool."