into small cow figurines for his young brother. Then
Jabu heard a sound that stole his breath from him.
"Rrrrroar!" came the bellow. The cows all froze, a
wild look coming into their eyes. "Rrrroarrrrrrr...." It
was Bhubesi, and he was near! There was no time to
drive the animals home; the lion was much too close.
Jabu slowly rose, looking carefully around, his hand
clenched on his staff. He walked purposefully, trying
not to show the fear that made his knees tremble,
pulling the cattle together into a tight circle. The
cows
trusted
him
and
they
obeyed.
"Rrrrroarr...oarr..oarr...aaa!" Jabu listened. Bhubesi
was not declaring his majesty or might....it sounded
more like a cry for help. Several more bellows and
Jabu knew, Bhubesi was in trouble. Somehow this
took most of the boy's fear from him. Gripping his
staff, Jabu quietly began to walk toward the lion's
cry.
Yes, indeed, the lion was in trouble. Jabu found him
in a small clearing several metres across the river.
He was caught in on of the traps laid by the men of
the village. His head was firmly wedged in the
barred structure, and the more he struggled, the
tighter the snare became. Jabu stood and stared.
Never before had he seen the king of the animals so
near. He truly was a majestic animal. And a large
part of his heart was sore for the creature. Then the
lion saw the boy. "Hawu! Mfana! (hah'woo mfah'nah
"Oh! Boy!") It is good that you are here. Please, help
me. I am caught in this stupid trap and I cannot free
myself. Please, please, will you come and pull up on
the bar that is holding my head here. Please!"
Jabu looked into Bhubesi's eyes. He could not read
them, but he could hear the desperation in the
animal's voice. "Please, Mfana! Please! Before those
6
Le portrait magazine