An elephant and a crocodile were once standing beside a river. They were disputing* who the better animal was.
"Look at my strength," said the elephant. "I can pull up a tree, roots and all, with my trunk*."
"Ah! But your skin is not nearly so thick as mine," replied the crocodile. "No knife or tooth can cut through it"
A lion happened to pass.
"My dear friends!" said the king of all animals, going up to them, "Let me know the cause of your disagreement."
"Will you kindly tell us who the better animal is?" cried both at once.
"Certainly," said the lion, pointing across the river. "Do you see the metal hat on that wall?"
"Yes", replied the beasts.
"Well, then," continued the lion, "go and get it, and bring it to me, and I shall be able then to decide between you."
Upon hearing this, off they started. The crocodile, being used to the water, reached the opposite side of the river first, and was soon standing beside the wall.
Here he waited till the elephant came up. The elephant, seeing that the crocodile had no way of reaching the hat, raised his long trunk, and took down the hat quite easily.
They then made their way together back again across the river. The elephant was trying to keep up with the fast-moving crocodile in the water and became careless. The elephant dropped the hat and it fell to the river bottom. The crocodile noticed the accident, so down he dived*, and brought it up in his huge mouth. They then returned, and the crocodile laid the metal hat at the lion's feet. The king took it up, and turning to the elephant, said:
"You, because of your size and trunk, were able to reach the hat on the wall. But having lost it, you were unable to get it back. And you," said the lion to the crocodile, "although unable to reach the hat, were able to dive for it and save it. You are both wise and able in your own ways. One is no better than the other."
