` But how did you cross the water ? ' inquired the old woman . ` Oh , I just jumped ! ' said he . And his grandmother asked him no more questions , for she saw that he was wiser than she . -LSB- ` Indian Folk Tales . ' Bureau of Ethnology . -RSB- The Turtle and His Bride There was once a turtle who lived among a great many people of different kinds , in a large camp near a big river which was born right up amongst the snows , and flowed straight away south till it reached a sea where the water was always hot . There were many other turtles in the camp , and this turtle was kind and pleasant to them all , but he did not care for any of them very much , and felt rather lonely . At last he built himself a hut , and filled it with skins for seats , and made it as comfortable as any hut for miles round ; and when it was quite finished he looked about among the young women to see which of them he should ask to be his wife . It took him some time to make up his mind , for no turtle likes being hurried , but at length he found one girl who seemed prettier and more industrious than the rest , and one day he entered her home , and said : ` Will you marry me ? ' The young woman was so surprised at this question that she dropped the beaded slipper she was making , and stared at the turtle . She felt inclined to laugh -- the idea was so absurd ; but she was kind-hearted and polite , so she looked as grave as she could , and answered : ` But how are you going to provide for a family ? Why , when the camp moves , you will not even be able to keep up with the rest ! ' ' I can keep up with the best of them , ' replied the turtle , tossing his head . But though he was very much offended he did not let the girl see it , and begged and , prayed her so hard to marry him that , at last , she consented , very unwillingly . ` You will have to wait till the spring , though , ' she said ; ' I must make a great many slippers and dresses for myself , as I shall not have much time afterwards . ' This did not please the turtle ; but he knew it was no use talking , so all he answered was : ' I shall go to war and take some captives , and I shall be away several months . And when I return I shall expect you to be ready to marry me . ' So he went back to his hut , and at once set about his preparations .
The first thing he did was to call all his relations together , and ask them if they would come XXXXX him and make war on the people of a neighbouring village .
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