One day a greedy wolf was having his dinner. There was tasty meat in that day's dinner. He ate so hurriedly that a bone got stuck in his throat. He tried hard to throw out the bone, but he did not succeed.
He thought, "What will happen if I can't get that bone out of my throat? I will not be able to eat anything and I will die of hunger."
Then the wolf went to a crane who lived on the river bank. He said to the crane, "I have a bone stuck in my throat. You have a long neck that can reach down to the bone. Please pull out the bone. I will pay you well for your service."
The crane agreed in a word to help the wolf. The wolf opened his mouth wide. The crane reached down the long neck into the wolf's throat and pulled out the bone easily. The wolf got relief from the danger.
"Now pay me my fees," said the crane.
"Fees?" said the wolf strangely. "Forget the fees. Thank God that you put your head into my mouth and got it out safely.” Then he went away laughing. And the crane stood there foolishly.
