“‘Peep! peep!’ said a little voice, ‘don’t be frightened.’
“‘Who says I’m frightened, you old toever stone?’ asked Jakhals. ‘Though my front feet are fast, I can still kick with my hind feet.’
“‘Kick, kick, kick, and stick fast,’ said the little voice.
“So Jakhals kicked and kicked, and his hind feet stuck fast.
“There was a funny sound under the water, like water bubbling through a reed. It was the Water Tortoise laughing.
“‘Nier-r-r! nier-r-r!’ said Jakhals, getting very cross; ‘I’ve still got a tail, and I’ll beat you with it.’
“‘Beat, beat, beat, and stick fast,’ said the little voice.
“So Jakhals beat and beat, and his tail stuck fast.
“‘Nier-r-r!’ he said again, very angry; ‘I’ve still got a mouth, and I’ll bite you with it.’
“‘Bite, bite, bite, and stick fast,’ said the little voice.