Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 21, 1910.djvu/249

to beat him, but he said,—"No, no, it is I, the Tortoise." Then the owner of the house said,—"Very well, but what about the food that has been brought to you?" Then he said,—"Oh no, the Spider said if (it was for) 'the strangers' it was his; if (it was) 'for the stranger' it was mine." Then the owner of the house said,—"Indeed, so the Spider played you a trick like that?" He said,—"Let us go now (leave). In the morning you will be revenged" (it will be revenged to you). In the morning the owner of the house caused food to be prepared. Two fowls were brought, a boy was found, and it was said to him,—"See here, You must say 'Here is food for the stranger.'" When the boy had brought (it), he said,—"(It) is for the stranger." Then the Spider said to the boy,—"You are lying. We are two. Do you say 'here is food for the stranger'?" Then the boy said,—"No, I was told (it was said) to bring food for the stranger." Then the Spider said,—"Very well. Tortoise, eat (it). It is God (Who) has given you (it)." Then the Spider became angry, and said,—"To-morrow we shall go away." When they were about to bid them farewell, the people of the house put a he-goat and a bull in a house. A cord was tied to the bull, and a leather thong to the he-goat. The door was closed, (and) only the ropes were left outside. Then the owner of the house said,—"Let each one come and hold a rope. Whatever he seizes will be his." Then the Spider came and pushed the Tortoise aside, and caught hold of the thong, thinking that must be (for) the bull. Then they said,—"Have you got hold?" They said they had caught hold. When the door was opened, they said,—"Let each pull his own." When the Spider pulled the hide rope, the he-goat came out,—" baa"; when the Tortoise pulled his cord, (out came) a bull, a big one. Then the Spider felt sore at heart, and said he would be revenged for this evil deed. They went off, and he (Spider) killed his he-goat, he, the Spider, and he gave the Tortoise the liver, and he (Tortoise) put (it) in his bag. They went on a little way, when the Spider said,—"Here, Tortoise, give me my liver," so said the Spider. Then the Tortoise put his hand (into the bag), and pulled it out and gave (it) him. Then the Spider said,—"Nonsense, Tortoise, don't you understand a joke?" Then he said,—"I was playing a trick on you. Eat it up, I gave it to