“Oh, yes, sister Crane. Just wait a little, and you will see. He, he, he!”
Miss Crane, who was quietly listening, heard Terrapin’s chuckle and muttering, and prepared to receive him properly. When he was within reach, she cried, “Hold hard, Terrapin,” and at once proceeded to shower mighty blows on his back, then laid the stick on his feet so sharply that, to protect them, he had to withdraw them into his shell, in doing which he lost his hold and fell to the ground with such force that to anything but a terrapin the great fall would have been instantly fatal.
“Try again, Terrapin; try again, my brother. Another time and you will succeed,” cried Miss Crane, mockingly.
Terrapin slowly recovered his faculties from the second fall, and exclaimed, “Ah, Crane, Crane. If I heed you a second time, call me fool. Yesterday and to-day you triumphed, to-morrow will be my turn.”
“Kwa-le, kwa-le,” Miss Crane shrilly cried. “My tree will stand to-morrow where it stood to-day. You know the way to it; if not, your hate will find it.”
Terrapin toddled away upon this to seek the Lion, to whom, when he had found him, he pleaded so powerfully that the Lion pitied him greatly, and answered, “I may not help you in this matter, for I was not made to climb trees. Go you, and tell Jackal your story, and he will be able to advise you.”
Acting on the friendly advice, Terrapin sought out the Jackal, to whom he repeated his lamentable tale. The Jackal rewarded him with a sympathetic sigh, and said, “Friend Terrapin, my teeth are sharp and my feet are swift, but, though I am so happily endowed, I have no wings to fly. Go and seek Elephant. His strength is so great that perhaps he will be able to pull the tree down for you.”
Terrapin proceeded on his way to search out the Elephant, and, after much patient travel, discovered him brooding under a thick shade. To him at once Terrapin unburdened his breast of its load of grief, and appealed piteously for his assistance.
“Little Terrapin,” replied the kindly Elephant, “your tale is dour. But though I am strong, there are some things that I cannot do. Miss Crane’s house is built on one of the biggest trees of the forest, and it would require two score of elephants to drag it down. It is wisdom, and not strength, that you need. Go you and seek Serpent, and he will assist you.”