Kancil (name of a mousedeer), the small but clever
mousedeer, had many enemies in the forest. Fortunately, he was quick-witted, so
that every time his life was threatened, he managed to escape.
One of his greatest enemies was Crocodile, who lived in
the river that bordered the forest. Many times Crocodile had tried to capture
the small mousedeer. Crocodile was big, but he was not very clever. Kancil was
able to trick him every time.
One day it was very hot, there was no wind at all. It was
in the middle of the dry season. For many weeks no rain had fallen so that the
little creeks where the small animals used to drink had dried up. Kancil was
walking alone in the forest; he was very thirsty. He had walked a long way;
looking for a brook where he could quench his thirst, but he had found only dry
mud in the once full of water brook. It was very quiet in the forest. All the
animals seemed to be sleeping. Even the birds did not sing in the trees. Kancil
finally decided to go to the river that bordered the forest. Usually he avoided
going there as he knew that Crocodile was always on the look-out for him,
waiting for an opportunity to catch him.
When he arrived at the river, Kancil looked cautiously around him. There was
nobody to be seen. The clear river water mirrored blindingly the rays of the
sun. Step by step Kancil approached the water. His sharp eyes looked right and
left; his pointed ears strained to catch the slightest sound. But no danger
seemed to threaten him this time. Relieved, he bent his head to enjoy the cool
water. Suddenly, his glance fell upon an object that was floating not far away
from where he stood. It was a blackish thing. It looked like a fallen branch or
like the back of crocodile! Kancil jumped back, surprised and thoughtful. But
he was also very thirsty. How could he possibly know whether the thing there in
the river was really a log or a crocodile? Then he smiled a little as he hit
upon an idea.
In a clear voice he shouted, “Hey! There, you who are in
the river. If you are crocodile, don’t answer me, but if you are only a log of
wood, tell me your name!”
It was really Crocodile who was floating in the river. He
had seen Kancil near the river. Without thinking any further, Crocodile
answered Kancil in his gruff voice, “Don’t be afraid, I’m only a harmless log!”
Immediately, Kancil ran away as fast as his leg could
carry him, while shouting over his shoulder, “O, stupid Crocodile, have you
ever heard a log of wood talk?”
A fortnight later, Kancil forgot this incident. The dry
season was not over yet and it seemed to be hotter than ever. Kancil remembered
the cool, fresh river water. How wonderful it would be take a bath in it! He decided
to try his luck once again. This time there was nothing suspicious to be seen,
so Kancil went to the water and drank to his heart’s content. It was very quiet,
and also very hot. Without thinking any further Kancil went down into the river
and began to splash himself. In his delight he forgot all about danger. He picked
up a dry twig that was floating by and began to beat the water with it. He made
so much noise that the crocodile woke up.
“Well, well, this seems to be my lucky day,” thought
Crocodile. In a flash he shot out of his hiding place. All of a sudden Kancil
felt sharp teeth biting into one of his legs. It hurt him very much, but though
he was shocked and frightened Kancil did not lose his wits. Without hesitation
he dipped the dry twig into the water and in a mocking tone he said, “stupid
old log of wood, do you really think you have got me? It is only a twig you
have in your mouth, not my leg. Here is my leg, catch it if you can!”
Kancil moved the twig rapidly to and in front of
Crocodile’s eyes. Crocodile could not see very well in the water and above all,
he really was blockhead! He believed Kancil and released Kancil’s leg and
snapped his jaw on the twig. Of course, kancil did not wait one second to jump
out of the water and run to the safety of the woods. Though his leg was very painful,
he laughed heartily. Once more he had tricked Crocodile.
-FIN-
Read the Indonesian translation HERE
Author: Unknown
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