Mr Spider Creates A Frightful Tornado

This tale has been adapted from the original for readability:

Spider and Leopard had once been friends, and they lived together at an old farmhouse. When they went hunting they found no meat at all, and before long hunger had them in a hard grip. So Leopard said, “Come on then, Spider. Let’s go and eat our children.”

Spider said, “All right, but we’ll eat yours first, since you were the one to suggest it.” Leopard agreed. And so they began, killing and eating Leopard’s children, not all in one day, but little by little, one on one day, another on the next, until there were none left. Then it was Spider’s turn.

Spider said, “Tomorrow, let’s meet at another farmhouse, under that big tree over there.” Leopard agreed.

When Spider left, he went home and cut a great heap of long palm branches. He tied them into a thick bundle and split it between his wife and his children. Early the next morning he went to the meeting place and found Leopard already there. They sat and talked, and soon they heard a loud, dragging sound. Spider’s wife and children were pulling the palm leaves along the ground to make it seem as though a fierce storm was on its way.

Spider sprang up, stamped his foot, and said, “Mr Leopard, can you really sit there? A terrible wind is coming, and it will sweep us away. Wherever it drops us, we’ll die, and we’ll never see our families again. Quick, friend, tie me up before it reaches us, so it can’t carry me off.”

Leopard said, “No. You tie me first.”

Spider said, “No, you tie me first.”

They argued back and forth, until Spider said, “Fine. I agree, because this storm is so strong it will lift you first if I don’t secure you.”

He led Leopard to the big tree and told him, “Stand straight, close to the trunk. Don’t move.” Leopard did as he was told. Spider had wanted for a long time to get the better of Leopard, and now he saw his chance. All the while the dragging noise grew louder, as if the wind were almost upon them. Leopard said, “Hurry up, it’s coming.”

Spider brought out a rope and began tying Leopard from his toes upward, winding the rope round and round the trunk, higher and higher, until it reached his neck. When Spider finished, Leopard could not move a muscle.

Spider laughed and said, “I’ve made a fool of you.” Then he called to his children, “Bring the whip. We’ve caught him at last.”

Spider’s children climbed into the tree, ate the fruit, and threw the stones down on Leopard’s head. Then they climbed down and began beating him, shouting, “So you’re a dog, are you, eating people. Come on then, eat us if you can.”

Leopard glared at them, but he could do nothing.

Spider said to Leopard, “Isn’t it true you’ve always said that one day you’d catch me and beat me? Well, today it’s my turn.” And he took the whip and lashed Leopard again and again. Leopard begged and begged, but Spider would not stop until he grew tired. Then Spider went home.