{"collection":"African","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/afr/yl/yl15.htm","path":"afr/yl/yl15.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/afr/yl/yl15.htm","text":"Sacred-Texts African Index Previous Next\nTHE water-bird always stands on one leg, and this is why:\nA water-bird once, in search of food, swallowed the King of the crabs, and the whole tribe of crabs were so enraged that they swore they would have their revenge.\n\u201cWe will find this horrible bird,\u201d they declared, \u201cand nip off its legs. We shall not fail to find it, for its legs are bright p. 21 pink in colour and its feathers are pink and white.\u201d\nBut the water-rat overheard the crabs plotting, and hastened to tell the water-bird.\n\u201cOh! Oh!\u201d cried the water-bird. \u201cThey will nip off my beautiful pink legs, and then what will become of me? Whatever can I do?\u201d\n\u201cIt is very simple,\u201d replied the water-rat. \u201cIf you stand on one leg, they will think you are some other creature.\u201d\nThe bird thanked him and tucked up one leg. When the crabs came, they saw, as they thought, a very tall pink bird with one leg and a large beak.\n\u201cOur enemy has two legs,\u201d they said. \u201cThis cannot be he.\u201d And they passed by.","title":"XIII THE WATER-BIRD","type":"page"}