At this, Leopard felt very much grieved; and he inquired of his women, “The wife of Kudu is here in this company?” The woman answered, “Yes! I’m here.” Then Leopard said, “Please, Kudu, take your wife, and remove me from this bench. It hurts me.” So, Tortoise took his wife. And he added, “I want also my food you took from us in the path.”

Leopard sent a child back to his town in haste to cut plantains. The child went; and the plantains were brought. Tortoise took them, and said, “Njâ! you are done, for your part. I have taken all I owned. But, if I release you, you will kill me, and take again my wife. You shall be released only after I have fled.”

So, Tortoise fled with his wife and all his goods into a stream of water. When safely there, he shouted, “Let Njâ remove from that seat!”

At once, Leopard stood up, and was free. And he went back to his town, giving up his intended journey into the forest.

TALE 16

Tortoise, Dog, Leopard and the Njabi Fruit

Persons

Njâ (Leopard) Mbwa (Dog) Kudu (Tortoise) Inâni (A Bird) And Other Beasts