“What are you trying to tell me?” asked the tortoise. “You have to be alert to all the dangers before you undertake a plan,” said the swans. “When we are flying to the new lake, you must be very alert. People will see us as we fly and will comment on it. You must not reply to them no matter what they say; otherwise, you will lose grip and fall to your death,” the swans warned the tortoise. The tortoise gave them a very contemptuous look and said, “I’m not so silly!” The swans took off with the tortoise gripping the stick. While they flew over the forest and trees there was no trouble. The tortoise imagined that he too was flying like the birds. Trouble began as they flew over the villages and the towns. People saw the strange sight of a tortoise being carried by two swans on a stick and were very excited.
Warning the Tortoise
