Lion began to roll. He rolled all the whole way down,
and finally lay at the bottom of the bank near the river.
Hyena smiled and winked his eye at vulture. He said
to vulture, "Look at how Lion is suffering! The poor
old fool! Let's have some more fun with Lion". Vulture
started to feel ashamed of their behaviour and said
to Hyena "Maybe we must help Lion onto the bank.
He is our friend after all." Hyena was afraid that Lion
may tell the truth about who actually caught the kudu
and he was also afraid that Lion would be very mad
with him eating so much of the meat. He said to vulture
"Don't be such a sissy, let's have some more fun and
take all the meat for ourselves. You know how difficult
it is to get food. Just do as I say and then we would
have all the meat to ourselves". Vulture thought about this and decided to be on Hyena's side. Hyena called once again winked to
Vulture and shouted, "Vulture, why did you give me such a bad rope that caused Lion to fall?" Hyena hit a nearby rock so that it
sounded as if he had hit Vulture.
Lion heard the shouting and roared, "Hyena, stop shouting and hitting Vulture. I will hurt you if you don't stop immediately. Friends
don't shout and hit each other. Help me to climb up."
"Lion, I will give you a rope." Whispering again to Vulture, "Give me one of the old, thin ropes," and shouting aloud again, "Give me
a strong, rope, Vulture, that will not break again with Lion."
Hyena let down the rope, and when Lion had nearly reached the top, he cut the rope through with the sharp edge of a stone. Snap!
and Lion began to roll to the bottom again. Hyena again plucked on the rope and shouted, "Vulture, why did you give me such a rotten
rope? Didn't I tell you to give me a strong one?" Lion roared, "Hyena, stop beating our friend Vulture at once. Help me immediately,
or you will be sorry." Lion was beginning to get very angry at Hyena's behaviour.
"Vulture," Hyena said aloud, "Now give me the strongest rope you have," and whispered aside to him, "Give me the worst rope of
the lot."
Hyena again let down a rope, but just as Lion reached
the top, Hyena gave a strong pull and broke the rope.
Poor old Lion rolled down the side of the hill and lay
there roaring with pain. He was hurt.
Hyena inquired, "Lion, have you hurt yourself? Have
you much pain? Wait a while; I am coming directly
to help you." But Hyena and vulture slowly walked
away.
Tortoise heard all the noise and tried to move as quickly
as his big shell and little legs could carry him to Lion.
When he reached Lion after a struggle, he told Lion
he heard Hyena and Vulture talking while Lion was
at the river. He told Lion about Hyena's laugh, about
hearing Hyena tearing off the kudu's meat and eating it, and also about the lie Hyena had told Vulture. Tortoise told Lion how Hyena
removed the rock and how Hyena and Vulture had walked away leaving Lion to die.
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Children
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