The Fox’s Judgement

The Otters’ Quarrel

When Grandpa came home with a basketful of mangoes, the children jumped with joy. However, their excitement quickly turned sour as they began to quarrel about who should get the biggest and juiciest portions of the mangoes once they were sliced. Grandpa shouted at them to be quiet and said, “Why are you fighting like Kilkenny cats? Each one of you is worried that he has not got the bigger portion of the fruit. Let me tell you the story of two creatures who fared no better for thinking so.”

Gathering Around Grandpa

At once, the children stopped quarreling and sat around the old storyteller to hear him spin a delightful yarn. Grandpa took out his silver snuff box and held up a pinch of the stuff before his nose. He sneezed once, dusted himself with a bright orange handkerchief, and began his story.

The Two Otters

Long ago, near the shore of a big river, lived two otters. They subsisted by eating the fish that abounded in the water. The otters would splash around, causing the fish to leap onto the shore, where they would pounce on them and kill them. This process was a bit tricky, as sometimes the fish would flip back into the water. Moreover, it was tiresome, as eating the fish one by one was hardly satisfying. The otters could only enjoy a contented meal after heaping up a substantial amount of fish on the shore.

A New Method

One day, the otters decided to try a new method. One would stand on the shore and kill the fish as they were flipped into the air by the other otter in the water. In this manner, both otters managed to accumulate a sizable quantity of fish. However, trouble arose when it came time to divide their catch; each otter wanted more, leading to a bitter quarrel.

The Cunning Fox

Just then, a lone fox approached and saw the pile of fish lying on the ground. The cunning animal decided to deprive the otters of their catch. Pretending to be sympathetic, the fox asked the fighting otters, “What is the matter? Why are you fighting so?”

Dividing the Catch

The otters explained what they had done and their inability to apportion the fish fairly. The fox replied, “Do not worry. I’ll show you how it can be done.” Calling over the otter that stood on the shore, the fox said, “Your friend who flipped the fish took a lot of trouble, so he should get the bigger portion of the catch. What do you say?” The otter agreed.

Then the fox turned to the other otter and said, “Your friend ensured that the fish did not slip back into the water, so he deserves a bigger share. Agreed?” The second otter also agreed. The fox then cut each fish into three pieces, giving the head to one otter, the tail to the other, and keeping the fleshy part for himself.

The Moral

Grandpa concluded the story and said, “So you see what happens to those who quarrel? Each one was eager for more, and the fox, who mediated, took away the best portions. So, be satisfied with what you get.”