hunters come and kill me. Please release me!"
Jabu had a tender heart, but he was no fool. "I would
very much like to free you, Bhubesi! But I am afraid
that as soon as I did so you would make me your
dinner."
"Oh, no, Ngane wami! (ngah'nee wah'me "My
friend") I could never eat someone who set me free!
I promise, I really promise with full sincerity, that I
will not touch a hair on your head!"
Well, the lion begged and pleaded so pitifully that
Jabu finally decided to trust him and set him free.
Gingerly he stepped over to the trap and raised the
bar that held the lion's head. With a mighty bound
the lion leapt free of the trap and shook his mane.
"Oh, thank you, Mfana! I really owe you something.
My neck was getting so stiff in there, and I fear it
would have been parted from by body by the hunters
if you hadn't come along. Now, please, if you don't
mind, Mfana, one last thing.... I have become so
thirsty from being in that thing, I would really like a
drink of water. Can you show me where the river is?
I seem to have become confused with my
directions."
Jabu agreed, keeping a wary eye on the lion, and led
the lion upstream from where he had come, away
from his father's cows, since Bhubesi had made no
promise about not eating them! As lion drank he
watched Jabu with one eye. He was thinking to
himself, "Hmmm....nice looking legs on that boy!
Hmmm....and those arms are good looking too! Pity
to waste such an excellent meal!" When the lion
raised his head from the river, both eyes were on
Jabu, and this time the boy could see what was
7
Le portrait magazine