` And now farewell , ' continued the rat ; ` you have a long way to go , and will do well to start before daybreak . ' ` Your counsel is good , ' replied the cat , smiling to itself ; and putting the stone in her mouth she went off to seek the falcon . Now all this time neither the cat nor the falcon had had any food , and the falcon soon got tired carrying such a heavy burden . When night arrived he declared he could go no further , but would spend it on the banks of a river . ` And it is my turn to take care of the stone , ' said he , ` or it will seem as if you had done everything and I nothing . ' ` No , I got it , and I will keep it , ' answered the cat , who was tired and cross ; and they began a fine quarrel . But , unluckily , in the midst of it , the cat raised her voice , and the stone fell into the ear of a big fish which happened to be swimming by , and though both the cat and the falcon sprang into the water after it , they were too late . Half drowned , and more than half choked , the two faithful servants scrambled back to land again . The falcon flew to a tree and spread his wings in the sun to dry , but the cat , after giving herself a good shake , began to scratch up the sandy banks and to throw the bits into the stream . ` What are you doing that for ? ' asked a little fish . ` Do you know that you are making the water quite muddy ? ' ` That does n't matter at all to me , ' answered the cat . ' I am going to fill up all the river , so that the fishes may die . ' ` That is very unkind , as we have never done you any harm , ' replied the fish . ` Why are you so angry with us ? ' ` Because one of you has got a stone of mine -- a stone with strange signs upon it -- which dropped into the water . If you will promise to get it back for me , why , perhaps I will leave your river alone . ' ' I will certainly try , ' answered the fish in a great hurry ; ` but you must have a little patience , as it may not be an easy task . ' And in an instant his scales might be seen flashing quickly along .
The fish swam as fast as he could to the sea , which was not far distant , and calling together all his relations who lived in the neighbourhood , he told them of the terrible danger which threatened the dwellers XXXXX the river .
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