"ah! those fishes got eaten through their own stupidity," answered the crab; "but i'm not going to let you eat me. on the contrary, is it you that i am going to destroy. for you in your folly have not seen that i was outwitting you. if we die, we die both together; for i will cut off this head of yours, and cast it to the ground!" and so saying, he gave the crane's neck a grip with his claws, as with a vice.