The children of Leopard, smelling a tempting odor, came to Tortoise’s end of the town. The children of Tortoise showed their food to them, saying, exultingly, “Ye! do you eat such as that?” A child of Leopard said, “Chum! let me taste it!” And he allowed him to taste it.
The children of Leopard went off hurriedly to their father, saying, “Father! such an animal as your friend has killed! Perhaps it is Ngweya; we do not know.”
Then Leopard went to where Tortoise was, and he asked him, “Chum! as to this meat-hunger, what shall we do? Let us arrange for the town.” Tortoise responded. “Yes, I am willing.” So, in the evening, he invited his friend Leopard that he should come and eat food. Leopard came; they sat down together; and they ate. When Leopard had tasted, he exclaimed, “Man! what animal is this?” But Tortoise would not tell him. When they had finished eating, Leopard said to himself, “I must know where Tortoise goes!”
On the next day, before the Ngwai (a Bird, that announces the first coming of daylight) had sounded, Tortoise went out clear on to where was that giant Goat. He spoke, as on his previous journey, “O! Mbodi! Friend of the Creator! open for me the house!” It at once opened the aperture; he entered in; and began to slice pieces of meat from the Goat’s inside. When he had finished, he said, “Open for me the house!” It opened the aperture; and he emerged and went back to his town. There he spoke to his women, saying, “Cook ye!” They boiled the meat; it was cooked; he invited Leopard; they ate; and finished. And Leopard went back to his house.
But, when night came, Leopard took ashes, and, going to the house of Tortoise, thrust the ashes into Tortoise’s traveling-bag, and stabbed holes in it. Said he to himself, “When Tortoise carries it, then the ashes will fall down.” This he did, so that he might follow to the place where Tortoise would go.
Next day, Tortoise was up at the same time with the first Ngwai. And at daybreak, Leopard followed, observing the ground closely with his eyes; and he saw the ashes. The fellow, at once, went on his journey, striding quickly, quickly, until he reached to where the great Goat was standing. It explained to him, as it had to Tortoise, its use, and invited him to enter. Said he, “O! Mbodi of my father Njambe! open to me the house!” And It opened the hole. He entered; and he discovered Tortoise cutting meat. Tortoise was displeased, and said to him, “Chum! is that the way you do?” They cut pieces of meat, they got ready, and they went back to town.
The next day, although Tortoise was vexed at Leopard, they started together on their journey; and they arrived at the Goat. They said as before, “O! Mbodi! Friend! open to us the house!” It opened the aperture; and they entered. Tortoise warned Leopard, “Chum! Njâ! don’t touch the heart!” They cut meat. Then Leopard said that he was going to lay hold of the heart. But Tortoise said, “No!” Leopard cut and cut, and was going on to the heart. Tortoise again said to him, “Not so!” They went on cutting. Finally Leopard laid hold of the heart! The Goat at once made a great outcry, “Ma-a! Mba-a!” and died instantly.
The people of the town that was near by, heard, and they said, “The Mbodi! what has happened to it? Young men! go ye! Hasten ye! for, that Mbodi is crying!” They went, and discovered the body of the Goat stretched out. They went back to the town and told the people that, “The Mbodi is dead!”
While this was going on, as soon as Tortoise inside the body knew that the Goat was dying, he began to seek for a hiding-place. He said, “I am for the stomach!” Leopard said, “No! that is the hiding-place of the elder one” (himself). Then Tortoise said, “I will go and hide in the bowels.” Leopard said, “That also is the hiding place of the elder.” Then Tortoise said, “Well! I’m going to hide in the fountain of the water of the belly” (the urinary bladder). Leopard said, “Yes! that is the share of the younger.” Tortoise thrust himself in there. Leopard jumped into the stomach.
When the people came, they discovered the Goat lying flat, and they said, “Tie ye it!” (to carry it away). Others said, “No! let it be butchered here.” They all said, “Yes!” And they cut it in pieces. They took out the entire stomach, and laid it aside. They took that fountain, and flung it out in the bushes.