An old crane, too slow to catch fish, told the fish of his pond a lie: “A drought is coming! Let me carry you one by one to a deeper lake.” The trusting fish agreed — but he simply ate each one.
At last it was the crab's turn. The crab climbed onto the crane's neck for the journey. As they flew, the crab saw no lake at all, only a pile of fish bones below.
Understanding the trick, the clever crab gripped the crane's neck with his strong claws and saved himself, returning home to warn the others.