Raven And The Crab

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Title:     Raven And The Crab
Author: Elaine Goodale Eastman [More Titles by Eastman]

Raven had been flying all night over the ocean, and he had grown very hungry indeed, but what was there to eat? At sunrise he reached a sand spit, and there sat a large Crab. Raven thought he might be good to eat, but he was a little timid about attacking him, so he merely touched him on the back, saying, "Let us have a game, grandfather!"

"Certainly not," replied the Crab gruffly.

But Raven grew bolder and touched him again and again, crying out teasingly, "Come on, let us have a game, grandfather!"

Presently the tide turned, and about that time the Crab grew angry. He seized Raven by the leg and walked very slowly into the water with him.

"Dear grandfather, only let me go!" begged Raven, for he was terribly frightened.

Crab paid no attention to his prayers and cries, but walked on the bottom of the sea until he felt sure that his enemy was dead, when he let go of him, and Raven came up and floated lifeless on the top of the waves.

A light wind wafted him ashore, and he lay for a long time motionless on the warm sand. At last the sun revived him, and he awoke. He looked at his raven skin and saw that it was sadly draggled and some of the feathers had come off, but he was so thankful to be alive that he only said to himself, "After all, I have not done so badly!"

[The end]
Elaine Goodale Eastman's short story: Raven And The Crab

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