Four good friends Mouse, Crow, Turtle and Deer lived in the forest. Every day they met at the lake and told each other interesting stories.
One day Deer did not come to the lake to drink water.
The other three were worried.
"I saw a hunter (猎人) in the forest this morning," said Crow. "I'm afraid Deer might be hurt."
"Fly over the forest, Crow," said Mouse. "Please see if you can find our friend Deer."
It took him a few minutes before Crow saw Deer caught in a trap (陷阱) made of ropes. He flew back right away to ask the other two for help. When they arrived, Mouse and Crow began to break the ropes. Turtle kept talking to Deer to help her feel better.
Just then, the hunter came to check his trap. "Everyone, leave now," said Turtle.
Deer at once ran away with Mouse. Turtle just lifted a foot up when the hunter got close.
"My trap is empty," said the hunter. "But, a turtle is better than nothing. I will eat turtle soup tonight." The hunter picked Turtle up and started for home.
"Now we all must help our friend Turtle," said Deer.
Deer lay down on the way. She seemed dead. Crow flew and landed on Deer's head. The hunter saw Deer so he put Turtle down to get Deer. As soon as the hunter left Turtle, Mouse ran up and helped Turtle hide in the forest. Deer jumped up and ran off .The hunter went back to get Turtle, but he found him gone. "How scary! There is magic here," he said to himself in great fear. Then he rushed out of the forest and never came back again.
There was magic in the forest that day. That magic was called friendship.
