After the falling fruit killed Guinea-Fowl, Tortoise roasted and ate her. "Delicious!" he exclaimed. "Even tastier than the fruit."
Next, Tortoise made a flute from Guinea-Fowl's leg-bone.
Hawk heard Tortoise playing the flute. "What beautiful music!" he said. "Give it to me! I want to play."
"No!" replied Tortoise. "You'll steal it."
"I'll give it back," said Hawk. "Really! Hold onto my tail-feathers so you'll know I'm not going anywhere."
Tortoise grabbed Hawk's tail tightly and handed him the flute. Hawk then smiled and flew away with the flute, leaving Tortoise with nothing but a few feathers in his hand.
Inspired by: "Tortoise and Fowl" in Talking Animals by Wilfrid Hambly, 1949.
Notes: You can read the original story online. This is a continuation of The Tortoise, the Guinea-Fowl, and the Fruit Tree. See what happens next: The Tortoise Rescues His Flute. This is an illustration from Hambly's book by James Porter:
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