In a forest near the river bank lived a crane and his wife. They were very unhappy. Every time the wife laid eggs in their nest, a big black cobra living in a hollow of the tree would eat them up.
The crane had a friend, a crab. He went to his friend and shared his misery. "I feel so hopeless. That sneaking thief has eaten our eggs again," complained the crane angrily.
"Don't worry," said the crab comfortingly. "You need not be hopeless when you have a friend like me. We will come up with a solution."
The crab thought for a while and then whispered a plan into the crane's ear. The crane flew back excitedly and told his wife.
"Are you sure this will work?" asked the wife. "Think twice before going ahead."
But the crane was eager to try. He flew to the river bank, caught several little fish, and went to a mongoose's hole. He dropped a fish at the mouth of the hole, then another a little further away, creating a trail of fish leading to his tree.
The mongoose smelled the fish, came out, and joyfully ate it. He followed the trail. When it ended near the tree, he looked around and suddenly came across the black cobra at the foot of the tree. The cobra fought for its life, but after a long struggle, the mongoose killed it. The cranes, watching from their nest, sighed with relief.
The next day, the mongoose followed the same trail hoping for more food. Finding none, he climbed the tree in search of a meal.
When the cranes returned from the river bank, they found the mongoose climbing down from their tree. Looking into their nest, they discovered the mongoose had eaten all their eggs.
"Alas! We got rid of one enemy only to find another," said the crane to his wife.