The Unexpected Guest

An eagle who caught fish in a river became acquainted with a tortoise. They met every day and gradually they became so friendly that the tortoise frequently asked the eagle home for lunch.

A frog that lived near the tortoise’s house and lived in dread of the eagle, accosted the tortoise one day. “Why do you call the eagle home so frequently?” he asked. “Has he ever invited you to his house?”

“He has never invited me because he lives in a tree growing from the side of a hill,” explained the tortoise. “I could never climb there. However, I plan to visit him soon.”

Some days later when the eagle came to the tortoise’s house, the tortoise’s wife handed him a large pot, sealed at the mouth.

“My husband asked me to give this to you,” she explained.

The eagle was delighted. He was sure the pot was full of food. He flew away with it to his house. After a while, he broke it open.

To his astonishment and dismay, it contained his friend, the tortoise.

“Surprise, surprise!” said the tortoise, crawling out of the pot. “I knew you were unhappy because you could not invite me to your house. Well, now here I am!” But the eagle didn’t seem too happy. “I didn’t hunt because I thought there was food in the pot,” he snapped. “Now I’m so hungry I could eat…eat…YOU!”

Saying that, he shoved the tortoise out so that he would fall on the rocks below and break his shell. However, the tortoise fastened his mouth around one of the eagle’s legs. Both went hurtling down and the eagle had to land to get rid of his burden.

Once they were on the ground the tortoise let go of the eagle’s legs. Then the two animals, once friends, now bitter enemies, went their separate ways.