When hippopotamuses lived on land, there was a hippo king named Lionel. He had a beautiful wife and seven children. The king loved to give big feasts but strangely no animal knew his name except for his wife. During one feast, Lionel said to his guests, “You all have attended many of my feasts and yet none of you know my name. If you cannot say my name, you are requested to leave.” As all the animals left, a crocodile said, “What if I could say your name in the next feast?” Lionel said, “Then I will live in the water forever.” The crocodile thought of a plan. He dug a hole and buried himself. When Lionel’s wife was walking to the river, she tripped over him and screamed, “Lionel, please help me!” Thus, the crocodile learnt the hippo king’s name. At the next feast, he said it as promised. Lionel and his family went to live in the river.
The Clever Crocodile
