~ 41. Anansi and Fling-a-Mile ~


Anansi stuck his hand in a hole.
The hole said, "I'm Fling-a-Mile!" Then he flung Anansi one mile.
"Excellent!" said Anansi, and he put sharp stakes where he fell.
Then Anansi led Hog to the hole. "Put your hand in!" Anansi said.
Fling-a-Mile flung Hog; Hog got impaled on a stake.
"I'll eat Hog later!" said Anansi, happily.
Next Goat.
Then Dog.
Monkey watched what Anansi did.
Then Anansi led Monkey to the hole.
"Look!" Monkey shouted. "There's gold in the hole!"
Greedy Anansi reached for the gold.
Fling-a-Mile flung Anansi and he got impaled on a stake.
Monkey laughed.


Inspired byJamaica Anansi Stories by Martha Warren Beckwith
Notes: This is story 33 in the book. Beckwith heard this story from George Parkes; additional information in Beckwith's notes. Parkes' story is really long, including dialogue back-and-forth with the mysterious hole each time. The story is told as "Wheeler" instead of "Fling-a-Mile" in Jekyll, story 51, and in Johnson it's Wheelum: Nancy and Honey-Tree.


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