TheBigLeap

　　Twofrogsfellintoadeeppit,andthoughtheytriedveryhardtheycouldnothopout.Theircomradespeereddownfromthetopandcroakedinsympathy.

　　“Wefeelforyou,”theyshouted,“butthere’snowayyoucangetoutfromthere!”

　　Onhearingthis,oneofthefrogslostheart,anddiedoffear.Theotherfrogwasdeaf.Hethoughthiscomradeswereshoutingencouragement.Emboldenedbytheirfaithinhim,hegatheredupallhisreservesofenergyinonegreatjumpthatlandedhimoutofthepit.

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　　Donkeywhodidn'thelp

　　Adogandadonkeyweregoingtothemarketwiththeirmaster.Itwasaverylongwalkacrossamountainouspath.Atnoon,themasteratethelittlefoodhehadbroughtalong,unloadedthedonkey,andsettleddownunderatreeforanap.Thedonkeybegantoeatthegrassgrowingthere,buttherewasnothingforthedogtoeat.

　　“Therearesomeloavesamongtheloadyouwerecarrying,”saidthedogtothedonkey.“Let’stakeoneandshareitbetweenourselves.”

　　“Waittillthemastergetsup!”saidthedonkey,tersely.“He’llfeedyouthen.”

　　Justthenaravenouswolfcameintoview.

　　“Helpme,helpme,dog!”pleadedthedonkey,quaveringinfear.

　　“I’msohungryIdon’thavethestrengthtodoanything,”repliedthedog.“Waittillthemastergetsup.He’llcertainlyhelpyou.”

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　　TheBoastfulCrow

　　Aflockofgeeseflewdowntoabeachwhereasolitarycrowwashoppingaround.Thecrowwatchedthemwithdisdain.

　　"Howgracelesslyyoufly!"hesaidtotheswans."Allyouknowishowtoflapyourwings.Canyouglide?Canyousomersaultintheair?No,that'sbeyondyou.Let'shaveaflyingcompetition.I'llshowyouwhatflyingreallyis!"

　　Oneoftheswans,ayoung,sturdymale,tookupthechallenge,whereuponthecrowflewupandbegantodisplayhisflyingprowess.Heflewincircles,swoopeddownlikeanarrow,andperformedavarietyofacrobaticsintheair.Thenheflewdown,cawingtriumphantly.

　　Nowitwastheswan'sturn.Helaunchedhimselfintotheairandbeganflyingoverthesea.Thecrowflewafterhim,makingallsortsofderisivecommentsabouthismannerofflying.Onandontheyflewtillfinallythelandwaslosttosight.Waterstretchedendlesslyonallsides.Thecrow'scommentsbecamelessandlessfrequentandfinally,stoppedaltogether.Hehadbeguntotire.Eventuallyhebecamesotiredthathefoundithardtostayintheair.Hehadtostruggletokeepfromfallingintothewater.

　　Theswan,pretendingtobeunawareofhisplight,said,"Whydoyoukeeptouchingthewater,brother?Isthatanotherflyingmanoeuvre?"

　　"No,"squawkedthecrow,thefightcompletelygoneoutofhim."I'mintrouble...acurseonmyboasting!Ifyoudonotcometomyaid,I'lldrown..."

　　Theswanhadpityonhimandtakinghimonhisshouldersflewbacktotheshore.