In the river there were many crocodiles.

One day a crocodile swam to the tree and said to the monkey,

“Oh, monkey, would you like to taste the delicious fruit grown on the island in the middle of the river? Come with me!”

“I’d love to,” said the monkey. “But I can’t swim.”

“I will take you over on my back,” said the crocodile, looking sincere.

Though the monkey felt a little strange, his mouth watered when he thought of the fruit, so he jumped down on the crocodile’s back.

“Off we go!” said the crocodile, and started to swim.

“This is a great ride!” said the monkey, enjoying the wind blowing on his face.

“Oh, really?” said the crocodile. Then he suddenly dived under the water.

The monkey felt very scared and almost drowned, but he stayed on the crocodile’s back.

When they came back up to the surface, the monkey could finally breathe again.

“Why did you take me underwater, crocodile?” he asked.

“Because I want to kill you, stupid monkey,” answered the crocodile.

“My mother feels like eating a monkey’s heart, and I’m taking yours to her.”

“I wish you had told me before the trip,” said the monkey.

“Then I could have brought it with me.”

“What?!” said the crocodile.

“Are you saying you left your heart back there in the tree?”

“Yes,” said the monkey. “If you want my heart, we must go back to the tree to get it.

But we are so near the island. Can we get the fruit first?”

“No, monkey,” said the crocodile.

“No, monkey,” said the crocodile.

“Forget about the fruit.

I’ll take you right back to your tree, so you can give your heart to me at once.”

The monkey could not but agree with this plan.

But as soon as they approached the riverbank

the monkey jumped into the tree and climbed up.

From the treetop he called down to the crocodile

, who was waiting in the water:

“My heart is way up here! Come and get it, you stupid crocodile!”