The Tiny Turtle
Once upon a time there lived a tiny turtle on the bank of the river. There was a forest near the bank of the river. The tiny turtle liked to wander in the forest.
One day, while wandering in the forest he met an elephant. Seeing the elephant he was frightened and he shrank in his shell. Seeing this the elephant said boastfully “Did I give you a scare, Tiny Turtle? HA! HA! HA!”.
The turtle recognized the elephant. He thought “Oh! it is the same boastful elephant about whom I have heard so much.”
The turtle realized that if he did not think something soon the elephant will harm him. Suddenly, he had an idea. He made his voice loud and said to the elephant “Don’t laugh my friend! I may be smaller than you, but I am as strong as you are.”
“As strong as me? HA! HA! HA!” laughed the elephant. Hearing the turtle said “Don’t laugh. I can prove it to you. Let’s have a tug-of-war tomorrow.”
“HO! HO! HO! All right tiny turtle. We will do as you say.” said the elephant.
Then, the turtle went to the river bank for the next step of his plan.
The hippopotamus was sleeping in the river bank. The tiny turtle went up to him and said “Wake up hippo! I have news for you.” The hippopotamus roared “Who dares to disturb my sleep? Oh! it is you. Go away before I eat you up!”
The turtle replied with loud voice “You say that because I am much smaller than you. But, I am strong as you are.”
The hippo laughed hearing this. Hearing his laughter the turtle replied “Don’t laugh. Let’s have a tug-of war tomorrow and let’s see who wins.”
“All right! All right!” replied the hippo.
The next morning, the turtle went to the hippo with a long rope. He said to the hippo “Take this end of the rope. Then wait till I reach the edge of the forest with the other end and call out to you to start tugging.” He gave the one end of the rope to the hippo and went away with the other end of the rope to the other side of the forest.
Then the turtle went to the elephant. He gave him the other end of the rope saying “Take this end of the rope. Then wait for me till I reach the river bank with the other end and call out to you to start tugging.” The turtle handed the the other end of the rope and started to walk towards the river bank.
When he reached in the middle he shouted loudly “Come on! Let’s start tugging.”
At the edge of the forest the elephant started tugging and at the river bank the hippo started tugging. Both were thinking that they will defeat the turtle in few minutes. After, tugging for sometime they both were surprised as how strong the turtle was as they were unable to defeat him. The tug-of-war continued the whole day. The mighty animals tugged and tugged not realizing who was at the other end.
It was evening. Both the animals were tired. They both dropped the rope at the same time accepting the defeat.
The tiny turtle said smilingly “Now do you agree that I am stronger than you?”
Neither the elephant nor the hippopotamus had the energy to reply. But, they never again made fun or laugh at the tiny turtle.
The End