Spider, Elephan' En Pawpawtámus

This tale has been adapted from the original for readability:

Famine had gripped the land, and the country was so dry that there was hardly anything to eat. One day Spider ran into Elephant. They greeted each other, and Elephant sighed and said he had found nothing at all, the drought had stripped the place bare.

Spider was hungry too, badly hungry, but he was sly, so he told Elephant that it was true the land was parched, yet he thought he would soon find food for himself and his family. Elephant said that if Spider found a way, he should come and tell him. Spider agreed, then looked Elephant up and down and said, with a little sympathy that sounded like mockery, that Elephant had grown thin and weak, not like before, and soon he might not be any bigger than Spider. He added that Elephant did not look as if he had much strength left, and that Spider reckoned he could even pull Elephant from the shore into the water.

Elephant did not realise Spider was laying a trap, and, proud as ever, he answered that he could pull Spider from the water onto the land. Spider said, fine, and went off to find a great rope. In the bush he found a thick vine, strong as rope, and he hauled it down to the water’s edge.

There he met Hippopotamus and told him he could pull him out of the water and onto land. Hippopotamus laughed, said Spider was far too small, and boasted that with one finger he could drag Spider wherever he liked. Spider nodded as if impressed and asked when they should test it. Hippopotamus told him to come the next morning. Spider agreed, then went straight to Elephant and told him the same, that he would bring the rope when he was ready. Elephant and Hippopotamus had no idea Spider meant to set them against each other.

When the time came, Spider tied one end of the vine to Elephant and the other end to Hippopotamus. Then he told both of them to get ready, because he was going to pull them now. Spider took hold of the vine in the middle, gave a few sharp tugs one way and then the other as a signal, and then slipped behind a large tree to watch.

Elephant began to pull with all his might. Hippopotamus pulled back just as hard. They hauled and strained, each thinking he was being dragged by Spider, and neither would give in. They pulled until they were exhausted, and still neither had the advantage. In the end they pulled until they dropped, and both died there, beaten by stubborn pride.

Spider came out from behind the tree, looked at them, and said, almost pleased with himself, that they were stronger than he was, but he was cleverer than both put together. Then he dragged them up onto the shore. He cut up the meat, called people to help carry it, and paid them only a small share from the Elephant. Spider and his family lived on the meat until the famine passed. And as he divided it, he threw the scraps he did not want into the water, and that was how fish came to fill the river, because Spider’s waste fed the waters and drew them in.