The tortoise’s story was told so that the swans might plan in advance for their safety. The three friends thought about several plans but there was always one difficulty. The swans could fly, but the tortoise couldn’t! “How will I go with you both?” wondered the tortoise. Finally, they came up with a good plan. The two swans would fly holding a stick between them in their beaks. The tortoise would grip the stick with his teeth and hang on to it. That way, they could fly carrying the tortoise too and reach another lake safely. Early next morning, the swans found a stick and arranged the tortoise in the centre to grab it as they took flight. When all was ready, the swans told the tortoise to be careful of the dangers. “Otherwise, it will be like the silly cranes who stood around while the mongoose ate up their nestlings!” said the swans.
An Escape Plan
