112 
GOD'S BLACK DIAMONDS. 
mined to climb up and help himself. He did not 
get far, however, before his foot got stuck so fast 
in some resin that he could not move it. This made 
the tortoise very angry with the tree, and he 
threatened that if his foot was not freed imme- 
diately he would strike with his other feet and 
severely punish the tree. As he was kept a prisoner, 
he proceeded to make good his threat. He hit hard 
with another foot, only to find that two feet were 
now stuck fast in the resin. Angrier than ever, he 
issued further foolish threats and then struck again, 
with the result that three of his four feet were im- 
prisoned. Helpless now in every way, it was not 
long before the foolish creature lost its life to the 
first prowling and hungry dweller of the forest that 
happened to come that way. 
