XXXV THE THREE DEATHS OF TORTOISE

 One night when Tortoise was asleep in his hut, they set fire to it, and as they saw the flames leaping up, they said to one another:

 “He cannot escape. He will die.”

 But Tortoise drew himself into his shell and was untouched by the fire, and in the morning his enemies were astonished to see him walking about as usual.

 Soon they made another plan and threw Tortoise into a pool of water.

 “The pool is deep. He will drown,” said his enemies to one another.

 But Tortoise had drawn himself into his shell and was secure, and at noon the sun shone fiercely and dried up the pool.

 That evening Tortoise walked about the village as if nothing had happened, and his enemies were astonished.