` Why , it would take us YEARS , ' exclaimed another . ` Just look at all those tall green branches , spreading in every direction . If once we got entangled in THEM , we should never get out again ! ' ` Well then , let us go round by the bottom , ' said a third . ` How are we to do that , when the roots have made a deep hole , and above that is a high bank ? ' replied a fourth . ` No ; the only way I can think of , is to burn a large hole in the trunk . ' And this they did , but the trunk was very thick , and would not burn through . ` It is no use , we must give it up , ' they agreed at last . ` After all , nobody need ever know ! We have been away such a long while that we might easily have had all sorts of adventures . ' And so the whole company turned homewards again . They took even longer to go back than they had to come , for they were tired and footsore with their journey . When they drew near the camp they plucked up their courage , and began to sing a war-song . At this the villagers came flocking to see what spoils the turtles had won , but , as they approached , each turtle seized some one by the wrist , exclaiming : ` You are our spoils ; you are our prisoners ! ' ` Now that I have got you I will keep you , ' said the leader , who had happened to seize his betrothed . Everybody was naturally very angry at this behaviour , and the girl most of all , and in her secret heart she determined to have her revenge . But , just at present , the turtles were too strong , so the prisoners had to put on their smartest slippers and their brightest clothes , and dance a war dance while the turtles sang . They danced so long that it seemed as if they would never stop , till the turtle who was leading the singing suddenly broke into a loud chant : Whoever comes here , will die , will die ! At this all the dancers grew so frightened that they burst through the ring of their captors , and ran back to the village , the turtles following -- very slowly .
On the way the chief turtle met a man , who said to him : ` That woman who was XXXXX have been your wife has married another man ! '
above as at for in of than through to with