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Pilandok
and the Crocodiles
( Maranao ) |
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| The prankster Pilandok
wanted to cross a deep river filled with crocodiles.
But he had no boat, and no bridge was in sight. And
then he had an idea. He called to the crocodiles underwater. |
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| "What do you
want?" they asked him irritably. |
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| "Come up to the
surface of the water," he commanded the crocodiles.
"My master, the sultan, wants to know how many
you are in the river." |
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| "Why?" the
crocodiles demanded. |
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| "He is going
to give you gifts. Many gifts, and he wants to know
how many would benefit from his kindness."
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| So the crocodiles
floated until they filled the surface of the river.
Pilandok jumped on their backs as if they were stepping-stones,
and pretended to count as he carefully picked his way
to the other side of the river. When he had safely reached
the bank, he turned back to the crocodiles and shouted: |
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| "I fooled you!
I came from no sultan – and whoever with such
ugly faces would receive plentiful gifts?" |
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| Then he ran away as
fast as he could, so that the crocodiles never knew
what a master prankster tasted like. |
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