Story 27. Turtle and Mr. Leopard (II).
When Turtle got on Leopard's back, he cried, Oh, I am so weak.
Please let me put a small rope in your mouth so that I will not fall off and hurt myself.
Leopard agreed, for he could see no harm in this.
Then Turtle said, said, May I have a small stick to help me keep the insects from biting me?
Please allow me this one small thing.
Again Leopard agreed, and in this way they began their trip to Leopard's home to check with Mrs. Leopard about what was or was not said.
Soon they arrived.
Mrs. Leopard saw her husband coming through the trees with Turtle on his back.
Turtle had a rope in Leopard's mouth and was hitting him with the small stick.
Mrs. Leopard cried, See, it is just as I said.
Turtle is riding you as if you were a horse.
Leopard was very mad.
Turtle had made a fool of him.
So he threw Turtle to the ground and beat him with the stick.
And even today, if you look closely at a turtle's shell, you can still see the marks from the beating.
