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 startled¹.”

 

“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 sting² 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?”

 

“Because,” said the mosquito, “Juan put up his mosquito-net, and there was nobody for me to sting except the firefly (alipatpat.)”

 

“Why, Juan,” said the pugu, “did you put up your mosquito-net? The mosquito could not sting you, and tried to harm the firefly; the firefly brought fire; the turtle was frightened, and carried his house with him; the cock crowed when he saw the turtle; the horse was startled when he heard the cock, and broke my eggs.”

 

“Because,” said Juan, “I did not care to lose any blood.”

 

1 startled   

adj.受惊吓的v.使惊跳，使大吃一惊( startle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A crowd of 2000 was startled near the end of the concert. 2000名观众在音乐会将近结束时大吃一惊。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Startled by the sudden whistle of the train, the horse broke away. 火车突然鸣笛，那匹马受惊脱逃。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 sting   

vt.激怒，刺痛，刺伤，蛰伤；n.刺痛，刺伤

参考例句：

• Most flies do not sting.大多数苍蝇不叮人。
• The scorpion has a sting that can be deadly.蝎子有可以致命的螫针。