was carrying
his house on his back, and I feared that I might be buried under it."

"That is good enough reason," said Sinukuan; "you are free."

The turtle was the next to be summoned to Sinukuan's court. On his
arrival, he humbly replied to the question of the judge, "Honorable
Judge, I carried my house with me, because the firefly was playing
with fire, and I was afraid he might set fire to my home. Is it not
right to protect one's house from fire?"

"A very good reason; you are free," said Sinukuan.

In the same way the firefly was brought to court the next day, and
when the judge asked him why he was playing with fire, he said in
a soft voice, "It was because I have no other means with which to
protect myself from the sharp-pointed dagger of the mosquito." This
seemed a reasonable answer, so the firefly was liberated too.

Finally the mosquito was tried; and, since he did not have any good
reason to give for carrying his dagger, Sinukuan sentenced him
to three days' imprisonment. The mosquito was obliged to submit;
and it was during this confinement of the mosquito that he lost his
voice. Ever since, the male mosquito has had no voice; and he has
been afraid to carry his dagger, for fear of greater punishment.

The Pugu's Case.

Narrated by Bienvenido Tan of Manila, who got the story from Pampanga.

"Why, horse," said the pugu (a small bird), "did you touch my eggs,
so that now they are broken?"

"Because," said the horse, "the cock crowed, and I was startled."

"Why, cock," said the pugu, "did you crow, so that the horse was
startled and broke my eggs?"

"Because," said the cock, "I saw the turtle carrying his house;
that made me crow."

"Why, turtle," said the pugu, "did you carry your house with you,
so that the cock crowed, and the horse was startled and broke my eggs?"

"Because," said the turtle, "the firefly was carrying fire, and I
was afraid that he would burn my house."

"Why, firefly," said the pugu, "did you bring fire, so that the turtle
was frightened and carried his house, and the cock crowed when he
saw him, and the horse was startled and broke my eggs?"

"Because," said the firefly, "the mosquito will sting me if I have
no light."

"Why, mosquito," said the pugu, "did you try to sting the firefly,
so that he had to carry fire, so that the turtle was frightened and
carried his house, so that the cock laughed at the turtle, so that
the horse was startled and broke my eggs?"

"