The Alligator’s Fruit

 Two women went to gather some wild fruit from a vine¹ which belonged to the alligator².

 

“You must be careful not to throw the rind with your teeth marks on it where the alligator can see it,” said one of the women to the other as they sat eating the fruit.

 

But the other woman paid no attention and threw the rind showing teeth marks into the river, where the alligator saw it.

 

Thus he knew at once who had taken his fruit, and he was very angry. He went to the house of the woman and called to the people:

 

“Bring out the woman that I may eat her, for she has eaten my fruit”

 

“Very well,” answered the people. “But sit down and wait a little while.”

 

Then they put the iron³ soil-turner into the fire, and when it was red hot, they took it to the door and said to the alligator:

 

“Here, eat this first.”

 

He opened his mouth, and they pushed the red hot iron down his throat, and he died. 

1 vine   

n.葡萄树；蔓；藤

参考例句：

• The vine twines round the tree.这藤盘绕在树干上。
• There is a vine yard before the hill.山前有一个葡萄园。

2 alligator   

n.短吻鳄(一种鳄鱼)

参考例句：

• She wandered off to play with her toy alligator.她开始玩鳄鱼玩具。
• Alligator skin is five times more costlier than leather.鳄鱼皮比通常的皮革要贵5倍。

3 iron   

n.铁，熨斗，坚强，烙铁，镣铐；vt.烫平，熨，用铁包；vi. 烫衣服

参考例句：

• The iron has lost its magnetic force.这块铁已失去了磁力。
• We need an electrician to mend the iron.我们要请电工修理熨斗。