“Woman, let’s escape into the tree above,” he told her.  So Ture built a hut in the tree, which happened to have a big branch extending over a river.  He also prepared a rope by which his wife could haul him up.  Thereafter, whenever he returned from his wanderings, Ture would call to his wife to throw down the rope and pull him up.

Leopard had been seriously wounded, but eventually he recovered and went searching for the rascal who had injured him.  Arriving at Ture’s tree, he imitated the rogue’s voice and called to the wife to haul him up.  She failed to notice Leopard until it was too late.  Leopard, however, did not harm her, for he wished to use her services later.  He only lay on the branch, waiting.

Returning to the foot of his tree, Ture called to his wife to pull him up.  After she had done so, he saw to his horror the fate that lay in store.  Though terrified, Ture kept his wits about him.  He rushed right up to Leopard, saying, “Oh, my friend, it is a long time since we parted! Have you been waiting long?”  He ordered his wife to make a meal for Leopard, who said to himself, “First, I shall eat Ture’s food, and then I will seize him.”

Ture quietly told his wife to fetch the hide of an elephant and place it on the branch of the tree between himself and the place where Leopard was reclining.  Then, whenever he struck downward with his ax toward where the meat should be, she must pull the hide away and then swiftly put it back.  He then pretended to use his ax to cut up meat for Leopard’s meal.  In this way Ture cut into the branch until it snapped off, depositing Leopard in the water.  Ture congratulated himself.  “It is I,” he boasted, “the son of Ture’s father, who has dealt with you.”

Provider of water

When the mood so inclines him, although it is certainly rare, Ture can display heroic traits. One tale represents him as a culture hero who employs his native craftiness to provide humankind with water.

Once, people had no water.  All of it was controlled by one old woman, who had trapped it behind a dam.  She also grew many yams.  People would come and work for her, and in return she used to cook them yams.  But she never offered any water.  Whenever a man ate her yams, they would be so dry they would stick in his throat.