Page:Where Animals Talk (West African folk lore tales).djvu/158

 Again Tortoise asked the woman, "This other skin?" She answered, "Of Njâbu." Tortoise asked, "Njâbu, what did he do?" She answered, "Njâbu ate my sugar-cane, and my husband killed him." Tortoise said, "A proper reason! But, you, you are going to kill me and cook me with ngândâ-pudding. What have I done?" The woman had no reason to give. So she left Tortoise alive, and began to cook the gourd-seeds with fish.

Soon, Njambo himself came back, and his wife set before him the ngândâ and fish. But he objected, "Ah! my wife! I told you to cook Kudu; and you have cooked me fish. Why?" The woman told him, "My husband! first finish this food, and then you and I will go to see about Kudu." So, Njambo finished eating, and Ivenga removed the plates from the table. Then they two went into the room, where Tortoise was suspended.

The woman sat, but Njambo was standing ready to pluck down Tortoise. Then Tortoise said to Njambo, "You, Man! just wait!" The woman also said to Njambo, "My husband! listen to what Kudu says to you."

Tortoise asked, "You, Man, what skin is this?" Njambo answered, "Of Vyâdu. I killed him on account of this eating my Plantation." Then Tortoise asked, "And that skin?" Njambo answered, "Of Uhingi; and I killed him for eating my Kuba." Tortoise again asked, "And this other?" Njambo answered, "Of Njâbu; for eating my sugar-cane."

Then Tortoise said, "There were four of us in the Plantation. What have I eaten? Tell me. If I have eaten, then I should die." Njambo told him, "I've found no reason against you." Tortoise then asked, "Then, why should I die?" So, Njambo untied Tortoise from the roof, and said to Ivenga, "Let Kudu go; for, I find no reason against him. Let him go as he pleases."

So, Ivenga set Tortoise free; and he hasted back to his town in peace.