A monkey lived in a fruit tree by a river and made friends with a crocodile, sharing sweet rose-apples with him every day. The crocodile's wife grew jealous and demanded the monkey's heart to eat.
So the crocodile tricked the monkey onto his back, then halfway across the river confessed his plan. The clever monkey didn't panic. “Oh no!” he said. “My heart is so precious I leave it hanging in the tree. Take me back and I'll fetch it.”
The foolish crocodile turned back. The instant they reached the bank, the monkey sprang up into his tree, safe — and a great deal wiser about choosing friends.