The Tug of War
Elephant trumpeted loudly as he stomped across the ground. Every footstep made a crashing sound.
“Hey, look out!” called Turtle. “You almost stepped on me.”
“Look out for yourself,” said Elephant. “I am big. I am strong. I can do anything, and you cannot stop me!”
“I may not be big,” called Turtle. “But I am strong. I challenge you to a tug of war. After I beat you, maybe you will look out for those who are smaller than you are.”
“You cannot beat me,” said the Elephant. “I accept your challenge.”
Turtle said, “Meet me by the river after the sun rises tomorrow. I will put a rope on the ground from the trees to the river. You pull on the end by the trees. You cannot pull me out of the river!” Then Turtle walked slowly away.
Elephant went to tell his friends about the contest. Meanwhile Turtle lay down in the river to keep cool. Hippo’s every footstep made a giant print in the mud. “Hey, look out!” called Turtle. “You almost stepped on me.”
“Look out for yourself,” said Hippopotamus. “I am big. I am strong. I can do anything, and you cannot stop me.”
“I may not be big,” called Turtle. “But I am strong. I challenge you to a tug of war. After I beat you, maybe you will look out for those who are smaller than you are.”
“You cannot beat me,” said the Hippopotamus. “I accept your challenge.”
Turtle said, “Meet me by the river after the sun rises tomorrow. I will put a rope on the ground from the trees to the river. You pull on the end by the river. You cannot pull me into the river.” Then Turtle walked slowly away.
Hippopotamus went to tell his family about the contest. He only spent time with his family and had no other friends.
During the dark African night Turtle laid a strong rope on the ground. One end was by the trees. The other was by the river. Then Turtle hid behind a big rock.
Elephant came along just before the sun rose. He saw the rope. But, he did not see Turtle. “Turtle must be in the water,” he thought. Elephant picked up his end of the rope and walked into the trees to wait for the sun to rise.
Hippo came along a few minutes later. He saw the rope. But, he did not see Turtle. He picked up his end of the rope and went into the river to wait for the run to rise.
Turtle watched them both from his hiding place and waited for the sun to rise. The sun came up. Elephant began to pull hard on the rope. At the same time Hippo began to pull on his end of the rope. Elephant pulled. Hippo pulled. Turtle watched and smiled.
Elephant pulled and pulled. But he could not pull Turtle out of the water. Elephant was amazed how strong little turtle was.
Hippo pulled and pulled. But, he could not pull Turtle into the river. Hippo was amazed at how strong Turtle was.
Turtle watched and watched. He was amazed how two animals were so strong. But, neither was very bright. They did not notice that Turtle was not at the other end of the rope. When neither could pull any longer, both Elephant and Hippo went hope to rest before finding Turtle to apologize to him.
The story soon spread throughout the jungle about how strong Turtle was. Turtle was strong. But his strength was really in his brains. Still, no animal tried to pick on Turtle. After all, they heard that he had won a tug of war with both Elephant and with Hippo.