Leopard set out the food that had been prepared. Then he asked
Tortoise, "Where did you get the meat which I saw with your
child?" Tortoise replied, "I picked it up." Leopard said, "No! don't
tell lies!" They changed the conversation, and went on eating. When
they were done, Tortoise went back to his house.
Next day, Leopard said to his people, "I'm going to visit Kudu." So he
went, and entered into the house of the wife of Tortoise. There he saw
much dried wild meat. He exclaimed, "O! Kudu! you told me falsely! You
and I living in the same town, can't you let me know what happens?"
Then Leopard went back to his house. That evening he said to his
children, "Go to the house of Kudu. If you see a hunting-bag hanging
there, take hold of it; with a knife pierce holes in the bottom; and
fill the bag with ashes." They did so, putting in much ashes. They
returned to their father, and told him what they had done. He replied,
"Very good!"
That night, Tortoise said to his wife, "Tomorrow, I shall not go
out hunting." But, she said, "Yes! Go! and kill me some animal." So,
he consented.
Then day began to break. Tortoise went into the entrance-room;
thence he took his hunting-bag; but, in the dark of the morning,
he saw nothing wrong about it. And he went on his way.
Soon, also, Leopard came out of his house; and, going to the house of
Tortoise, he inquired, "Kudu is in the house?" The wife of Tortoise
from her bed-room, replied, "Kudu is not here." Then Leopard went
into the entrance-room of Tortoise; and looking about, he saw that the
bag was not there. So, he followed after Tortoise; and, as he walked,
he looked out for marks of the ashes. He followed, and he followed;
and finally overtook Tortoise.
Tortoise, as soon as he saw Leopard coming, said to him, "I'm going
back to town!" Leopard asked, "Why? Don't go! Why do you go?" Tortoise,
remembering his having said he was "a great man," answered, "Because
you are proud." But, Leopard insisted, "No! go on where you were
going." So, Tortoise consented, "Well, let us go!"
They went, and came to the town of Men. And they found that the
men were gone off into the forest. Tortoise observed that the house
was closed and locked. Leopard said to him, "Open the house!" But
Tortoise replied, "You, Njâ you open the house!" But, Leopard said,
"I am a stranger here; you travel here continually; you know the
way!" So, Tortoise opened the house; and they both entered.
Leopard saw the bodies of many wild animals drying in the
house. Tortoise said to him, "Carry the meat, and let us go!" But,
Leopard said, "No! I'm staying here, and will cook some meat
here." Tortoise objected, "No! take the meat and let us go. For,
here are great Men who kill us people."
However, Leopard insisted, "No! first let me eat." So, Tortoise said,
"Very well! I'll carry away my share; for, I'm going." But Leopard
still insisted, "No! wait for me." So, Tortoise yielded, and waited
for him in the house.