This happened a long time ago. The Tiger came to the stream to drink water and met the Frog on the shore.
- Why are you, Frog, sitting and sitting in the same place? – Tiger turned to her. “Can’t you really jump over to the other side?”
- What nonsense! – the Frog snorted. “It doesn’t cost me anything to climb to the top of that high mountain in a few jumps!”
“Don’t talk too much,” the Tiger laughed. – Try to master the stream first!
“I can handle it, but I’d like to see how you do it, friend Tiger.”
- Well, look! “The tiger sat down on his hind legs, pushed off and in one jump found himself on the opposite bank. Imagine his surprise when he saw the Frog nearby.
And it all turned out like this: the cunning Frog clung to the Tiger’s tail and jumped over the stream with him.
- I never thought that you could jump so deftly, Frog! – Tiger was surprised. “But I still don’t believe that you are able to climb the mountain!”
- You don’t believe it, and it’s in vain! - objected the Frog. – There’s nothing you can do about it, we’ll have to prove it to you in practice. Let's bet, Tiger. Whoever gets to the top of the mountain first can eat whoever loses! But first, you and I need to get some rest. And in seven days we will meet, and I will prove to you that I am right.
The Tiger agreed and, after drinking the water, ran away into the forest.
Before the Tiger had time to disappear from sight, the cunning Frog gathered the entire frog tribe and told them about her agreement with the Tiger and at the same time added that she was not concerned about herself, but about her neighbors, because, firstly, the Tiger would no longer attack the frogs, and secondly, all the frogs would have the opportunity to taste tiger meat.
In conclusion, the Frog said:
“I can’t defeat the Tiger in a fair fight.” This is only possible if you help me. I propose to do this: we all line up in single file at a short distance from each other. When the Tiger begins to call to me, everyone to whom he approaches must croak in response. And the frog, who will be waiting for the Tiger on the top of the mountain, will only have to inform him that she has gotten ahead of the Tiger and has been waiting for his arrival for a long time.
That's what they decided on.
The day of the competition has arrived. The Tiger and the Frog met at the stream.
“Dear Tiger,” said the Frog. - Well, now we can get started. But just keep in mind that you are a large animal and you can be easily seen, but I’m small - you probably won’t notice me. Let's agree that we will call each other.
Tiger agreed. The Tiger and the Frog stood at the very bank of the stream. The frog croaked and dived into the stream. The tiger growled and rushed forward.
The croaking rushed from one frog to another and outpaced the Tiger on his journey. Trying in vain to catch up with the Frog, he was completely exhausted and in the end, without reaching the top of the mountain, he fell dead to the ground.
So the weak frogs defeated the strong Tiger.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru