After this, little Tortoise grew, and began to go by itself, walking about the town. Tortoise told the child, “Do not show Njâ the things you eat.” But, the child did not obey. One day, it went off toward Leopard’s house, having in its hand the flesh of the wild animal it was eating. Tortoise saw his child going and called him back, but, he ran rapidly away to Leopard’s; who, seeing the child with food in its hand, cried out, “Come here!” Leopard took hold of the child’s hand to see what meat he was eating, and said to him, “Your father has no gun; where does he get all this meat?” The child was silent, not knowing whence the meat came, and did not answer; and he returned to his father’s house.
So, Leopard said to himself, “Kudu and I must have a talk.” He told his wife to make ready their food. She did so. Then he told one of his children, “Go! call Kudu to come and eat with me.” The child went and told as he was bidden. Tortoise sent word, “I can’t come.” His wife, however, said to him, “Go!” Tortoise objected to her, saying, “I’m afraid of that man!” Still his wife said to him, “Go!” So, he went.
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.