One look at Happy Hunter and Skillful Fisher knew that something was wrong. “What has happened here, brother?”
Happy Hunter came forward unhappily. “I have made a mistake.”
“What have you done?” Skillful Fisher sounded even more impatient.
“I have lost your precious fishing hook.”
Skillful Fisher cried out angrily. “This is just what I expected. I was did not even support the plan so that you go for fishing. And I go for the hunt. Now you have lost my hook.” Skillful Fisher clutched the bow and arrow in his hand even more tightly. “I will not return your bow and arrow as long as you do not give me back my hook.”
Happy Hunter knew that he had done wrong and he did not talk back to his elder brother.
Happy Hunter went home and in desperation to please his brother, he broke his sword and made five hundred hooks out of it.
When he took it to his brother, the brother scorned it and threw it away. “Even if you make a million hooks I will not accept it. I need my own hook.”
Not knowing what to do, Happy Hunter again set out to search for his brother's lost hook. He stood on the beach looking lost and sad.
That was when an old man came near him.
The old man studied Happy Hunter. “You are Hohodemi, aren't you? What are you doing here?”
Happy Hunter unhappily nodded at the old man. “I am Hohodemi. I lost my brother's hook and I am looking for it on this shore.”
The old man listened to the brother intently and then nodded. “I am Shiwozuchino Okina. I am sorry to hear your tale but I think I have an idea. You should go under the sea and tell Ryn Jin, the Dragon King of the Sea, about your troubles. I am very sure the hook that you are looking for will be found under the sea.”
Adapted from Japanese Folk Tales
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