I had you in my mouth, and I let you go. That is all that you can ever
expect me to do for you."

The Woodpecker said no more, but he kept away from the Lion from that
day on.




XI

THE OTTERS AND THE WOLF


One day a Wolf said to her mate, "A longing has come upon me to eat
fresh fish."

"I will go and get some for you," said he and he went down to the
river.

There he saw two Otters standing on the bank looking for fish. Soon
one of the Otters saw a great fish, and entering the water with a
bound, he caught hold of the tail of the fish.

But the fish was strong and swam away, dragging the Otter after him.
"Come and help me," the Otter called back to his friend. "This great
fish will be enough for both of us!"

So the other Otter went into the water. The two together were able to
bring the fish to land. "Let us divide the fish into two parts."