trouble. My ma was as much to me as your ma was to you.
We have both lost our ma's now. So let us call it even, and be friends
again."

Terrapin hesitated, but the memory of his ma's loss soon produced the
old bitterness, and he became as unforgiving as ever. Miss Crane must,
however, be persuaded that the matter was forgiven, otherwise he would
never have the opportunity to avenge his ma's death.

"All right, Crane," he answered; "but let me come up, and embrace you
over it, or do you descend and let us shake hands."

"Come up, by all means, Terrapin. I am always at home to friends," said
Miss Crane.

Terrapin upon this began to climb, but as he was ascending he foolishly
began to think aloud again, and he was heard saying--

"Oh, yes, sister Crane. Just wait a little, and you will see. He, he,
he!"

Miss Crane, who was quietly listening, heard Terrapin's chuckle and
muttering, and prepared to receive him properly. When he was within
reach, she cried, "Hold hard, Terrapin," and at once proceeded to shower
mighty blows on his back, then laid the stick on his feet so sharply
that, to protect them, he had to withdraw them into his shell, in doing
which he lost his hold and fell to the ground with such force that to
anything but a terrapin the great fall would have been instantly fatal.

"Try again, Terrapin; try again, my brother. Another time and you will
succeed," cried Miss Crane, mockingly.

Terrapin slowly recovered his faculties from the second fall, and
exclaimed, "Ah, Crane, Crane. If I heed you a second time, call me
fool. Yesterday and to-day you triumphed, to-morrow will be my turn."

"_Kwa-le, kwa-le_," Miss Crane shrilly cried. "My tree will stand
to-morrow where it stood to-day. You know the way to it; if not, your
hate will find it."

Terrapin toddled away upon this to seek the Lion, to whom, when he had
found him, he pleaded so powerfully that the Lion pitied him greatly,
and answered, "I may not help you in this matter, for I was not made to
climb trees. Go you, and tell Jackal your story, and he will be able to
advise you."

Acting on the friendly advice, Terrapin sought out the Jackal, to whom
he repeated his lamentable tale. The Jackal rewarded him with a
sympathetic sigh, and said, "Friend Terrapin, my teeth are sharp and my
feet are swift, but, though I am so happily endowed, I have no wings to
fly. Go and seek Elephant. His strength is so great that perhaps he
will be