There was a huge banyan tree in a jungle. It had a river flowing near it. The jungle and the lake gave home to many creatures. They lived there and brought up their young ones. They also attacked one another, if they were natural enemies.
A large number of herons had built their nests in the banyan tree. They laid their eggs and hatched them. The little nestlings were looked after till they were ready to fend for themselves.
In the hollow of the tree, however, there was a black snake. He waited for a chance and attacked the nests of the herons and ate up their young ones.
One day, a crab came out to lie in the sun. He found a heron sitting on the bank of the river, crying bitterly. “What happened, Uncle? Why are you crying?” he asked.
“My children! That awful snake has eaten them up! I could kill him! But what can I do except cry?” wept the heron.
The crab was a crafty fellow. He knew that the heron was its natural enemy. He would eat the crab if he got a chance to do so. “I must think of a plan that will help me destroy not only the snake, but the herons too!” he thought.
Putting on a very sympathetic look, he said, “Uncle, I have a plan. You may try it if you like. Get some pieces of fish and meat and scatter them outside his home. Then go and tell the mongoose that the snake has stolen his store of food.”
“And what will that do?” asked the heron.
“Uncle, the mongoose is the natural enemy of the snake! He’ll take care of the snake!” advised the crab.
The heron took his advice and carried out the first part of the plan. Then he watched as the mongoose came out and followed the food trail to the snake’s home. When he saw his food-store in the snake’s hollow, he was very angry. He attacked the snake. They had a terrific battle and the mongoose killed the snake.
The herons were very happy that the wicked snake was dead. Now their young ones were safe. But what they did not know was that was only the first part of the plan of the crafty old crab!
As the days passed, the mongoose looked around for more food. When he had come to the banyan tree to kill the snake, he had seen the heron that nested in the tree. They would provide him with food for quite some time! So he began to eat the herons and their young ones. Soon the crafty crab saw the end of the herons too.
