One day it grew very cold and the turtle felt very sleepy. He looked about for a soft spot in the mud and found one beneath some tall sheltering rushes. “Here I will sleep,” said he. So saying he slept.
When he opened his eyes there was a vast expanse of water over his head. Everything had changed and all the rushes had vanished. He threw off the mud blanket that covered him and ambled out on the floor of his resting place. “Iik,” he exclaimed. “Something has happened. Some magician has taken liberties with my home.” So saying he swam to the surface of the water.
Instead of the little stream with its neighboring swamp he saw a big lake. As far as he could see there was a lake. He looked about and saw an island in the lake and to it he swam. It was covered with sticks, and when he crawled upon it there was a hollow sound within, which frightened Turtle and caused him to slip quietly off and conceal himself.
Soon he saw a dark form emerge from the water beneath the island and rise to the surface.
Craftily Turtle raised his head and called. “Who are you?” Then he submerged quickly.
There was a whistling answer, a slap of the water and a voice said, “I am Beaver. Who are you?”
“So that is the case,” thought Turtle. “So someone has stolen my fishing place.” He was very angry and swam to the shore where he saw all kinds of branches broken up by cutting.
Soon he heard someone say, “Get out of my way.”
Turtle looked up and saw Beaver dragging a branch.
“One would think,” answered Turtle that it should be I who said ‘get out of my way’.”