The Turtle, The Frog, And The Serpent

Once upon a time the turtle married a frog. One day they quarrelled. The
frog escaped and withdrew into a hole. The turtle was troubled and stood in
front of his door very much worried. In those days the animals spoke. The
griffin came by that way and said: "What is the matter with you? You look
worried this morning."

"Nothing ails me," answered the turtle, "except that the frog has left me."

The griffin replied, "I'll bring him back."

"You will do me a great favor."

The griffin took up his journey and arrived at the hole of the frog. He
scratched at the door.

The frog heard him and asked, "Who dares to rap at the door of a king's
daughter?"

"It is I, the griffin, son of a griffin, who lets no carrion escape him."

"Get out of here, among your corpses. I, a daughter of the King, will not
go with you."

He departed immediately.

The next day the vulture came along by the turtle and found it worrying
before its door, and asked what was the trouble. It answered: "The frog has
gone away."

"I'll bring her back," said the vulture.

"You will do me a great favor."

The vulture started, and reaching the frog's house began to beat its wings.

The frog said: "Who conies to the east to make a noise at the house of the
daughter of kings, and will not let her sleep at her ease?"

"It is I, the vulture, son of a vulture, who steals chicks from under her
mother."

The frog replied: "Get away from here, father of the dunghill. You are not
the one to conduct the daughter of a king."

The vulture was angry and went away much disturbed. He returned to the
turtle and said: "The frog refuses to come back with me. Seek someone else
who can enter her hole and make her come out. Then I will bring her back
even if she won't walk."

The turtle went to seek the serpent, and when he had found him he began to
weep. "I'm the one to make her come out," said the serpent. He quickly went
before the hole of the frog and scratched at the door.

"What is the name of this other one?" asked the frog.

"It is I, the serpent, son of the serpent. Come out or I'll enter."

"Wait awhile until I put on my best clothes, gird my girdle, rub my lips
with nut-shells, put some _koheul_ in my eyes; then I will go with
you."

"Hurry up," said the serpent. Then he waited a little while. Finally he got
angry, entered her house, and swallowed her. Ever since that time the
serpent has been at war with the frog. Whenever he sees one he chases her
and eats her.