There came the Gemsbok, and said to the Tortoise, “Give me water!” The Tortoise answered, “The water belongs to the Elephant.”
There came the Wildebeest, and said, “Give me water!” The Tortoise said, “The water belongs to the Elephant.”
There came the Roodebok, and said to the Tortoise, “Give me water!” The Tortoise answered, “The water belongs to the Elephant.” [[61]]
There came the Springbok, and said to the Tortoise, “Give me water!” The Tortoise said, “The water belongs to the Elephant.”
There came the Jackal, and said to the Tortoise, “Give me water!” The Tortoise said, “The water belongs to the Elephant.”
There came the Lion, and said, “Little Tortoise, give me water!” When the little Tortoise was about to say something, the Lion got hold of it and beat it; the Lion drank of the water, and since then the animals drink water.
When the Elephant came back from the hunting, he said, “Little Tortoise, is there water?” The Tortoise answered, “The animals have drunk the water.” The Elephant asked, “Little Tortoise, shall I chew you or swallow you down?” The little Tortoise said, “Swallow me, if you please;” and the Elephant swallowed it whole.
After the Elephant had swallowed the little Tortoise, and it had entered his body, it tore off his liver, heart, and kidneys. The Elephant said, “Little Tortoise, you kill me.”
So the Elephant died; but the little Tortoise came out of his dead body, and went wherever it liked. [[62]]