The Tortoise and the Hawk's Mother
The Tortoise, being much aggrieved by the Hawk's theft of his flute, did harbour resentment. He observed and tarried until the Hawk had departed from his nest upon aerial pursuits, whereupon the Tortoise ascended to the aforementioned nest.
Within resided the Hawk's maternal progenitor.
The Tortoise, with cunning artifice, proclaimed, 'The Hawk hath, in a fit of absent-mindedness, neglected his flute! He hath dispatched me to retrieve the same.'
The Hawk's mother, being thus deceived, did deliver unto the Tortoise the flute in question.
Subsequently, the Hawk became cognisant of the Tortoise's musical performance.
With vehement indignation, he exclaimed unto his mother, 'Wherefore is my flute absent?' She recounted the events which had transpired.
The Hawk, overcome with choleric fury, did cast her upon the conflagration. He then experienced remorse, alas, it was an exercise in futility, for she was consumed by the flames.
Wherefore hawks are oft observed to hover o'er bushfires, for they are engaged in the perpetual quest for their erstwhile mother.
The Tortoise and the Leopard
“Verily,” quoth the Tortoise, puffed up with vanity, “mine abilities are of such magnitude that, shouldst thou inter me within a sepulchre, I shall, without fail, ascend from thence! Naught, I say, naught can stay my resurrection!”
The Leopard, being of a sceptical disposition, lent no credence to the Tortoise's vainglorious pronouncements. Wherefore, he did excavate a pit of considerable depth, into which he cast the Tortoise, thereafter entombing him beneath a mound of earth. The Leopard was persuaded, beyond peradventure, that he should nevermore behold the Tortoise.
But Providence, or perchance mere happenstance, dictated that the Tortoise's comrade, Rat, did arrive upon the scene, and with diligent industry, did burrow a passage, thereby enabling the Tortoise to effect his escape.
At the first, the Leopard evinced surprise at the Tortoise's reappearance, but, swiftly regaining his composure, he declared, “Thou art not so wondrous as thou claimest! I, too, possess the power to rise again, even as thou hast done!”
Whereupon, with cunning forethought, the Tortoise did excavate a pit and therein did bury the Leopard.
And thus it was that the Leopard met his ignominious end.
A Husband for the Princess
Her Majesty did proclaim, “He who shall fell this baobab tree with a solitary stroke of his blade shall be granted the Princess in matrimony.”
Elephant, with utmost vigour, swung his sword at the aforementioned tree; yet, alas, the tree remained unyielding.
Likewise, Rhino, Hippo, Lion, and all the creatures of considerable stature met with similar want of success.
“Permit me to attempt it,” quoth Tortoise, eliciting general mirth.
Whereupon, Tortoise didst distribute provender around the base of the tree. Ants, in due course, arrived and consumed the sustenance, thereafter commencing to gnaw upon the tree itself.
Tortoise, with patience, did bide his time whilst the ants continued their gnawing; subsequently, Tortoise merely had to touch the tree with his sword, and it succumbed.
Thus it came to pass that Tortoise didst wed the Princess.
The King's Magical Drum
The King's drum possessed the remarkable ability to conjure forth an inexhaustible supply of victuals and potables; a veritable marvel it was!
Solely to the King was privy the drum's arcane secret: should the drum's possessor inadvertently traverse a mere twig, warriors would forthwith emanate from within the drum and assail any persons within their line of sight.
Tortoise, harbouring a deep-seated covetousness for the King's drum, ascended a palm tree and patiently awaited the King's passage. When the King ambled by, Tortoise dropped a palm nut.
The King, in all innocence, retrieved it.
'Miscreant! Thou art a thief, having purloined mine repast!' Tortoise exclaimed with vehement indignation. 'Thou shalt render recompense forthwith!'
'Pray, take whatsoever thy heart doth desire,' quoth the King, with amiable generosity.
'I desire the drum!' declared Tortoise, his avarice plain to observe.
The King, with a subtle smile playing upon his lips, acceded to Tortoise's demand, yet, crucially, he omitted to impart the drum's perilous secret.
The Tortoise and the Magic Drum
The Tortoise, in a state of considerable elation, declared, “By virtue of this drum, I shall procure sustenance and libations without the encumbrance of labour!”
The Tortoise partook of victuals and found himself in a state of contentment.
The Tortoise provided nourishment for his kin, and they, too, experienced contentment.
The Tortoise hosted a lavish repast for the entire village, audaciously vaunting his pecuniary status.
The populace now held the Tortoise in high regard and admiration!
Upon an occasion where the Tortoise had imbibed an excessive quantity of palm-wine, he commenced to execute a dance. In the course of this terpsichorean display, he inadvertently trod upon a stick. Subsequently, when he struck the drum with the intention of procuring further wine, warriors materialised, equipped with both whips and bludgeons, and launched an assault upon the Tortoise.
This incited a degree of ire within the Tortoise. “It is unjust that I alone should endure such tribulation!” he mused, and thus did the Tortoise formulate a stratagem.