712 BANTU NEGROES 



to return my slices. You are a strong messenger. Fetch both the hare and my 

 slices. I am very sore, and. you must return quickly if you wish to see me alive." 



The leopard found the hare at home, and after the usual feed of meat they started 

 to hunt at Mount Bikongoliro, taking their nets. 



" Now,'' said the hare, " you wait here whilst I go into the grass. If you hear 

 something come buzzing like ' zoooooooooooooo ' hang down your head."' 



The hare then went into the grass, and presently the leopard heard a buzzing 

 " zoooooooooooooo," but instead of hanging down his head he held it up, and a big 

 stone just missed him. Then he stooped his head and pretended he was dead. He 

 chuckled to himself : " Ha ! ha ! Mr. Hare, so you meant to kill me Avith that stone ? 

 I see now what happened to the other messengers. The wretch killed them all with 

 his 'zoooooooooooooo.' Never mind, Mr. Hare, just wait till " 



The hare emerged from the grass, and when he saw the leopard lying prone he 

 laughed and jumped, and then scraped the ground. "There goes another messenger," 

 said he. " The elephant wants his slices back. Well, let him want them. He has 

 still got too many, but in any case those I cut off improved him a good deal, and 

 now as they are all eaten up I cannot very well return them." 



The hare then gathered some grass and pieces of string, and made the leopard 

 into a bundle, ready to carry him off. 



"I should like to skin him just here," said the hare, "if i had my knife. As 

 it is, I must carry him a little way, then hide him in the forest, and run home and 

 bring my knife." 



Having said this, he hoisted the leopard on his head and walked off with 

 him. The leopard was enjoying the ride on the hare's head, and after having gone 

 a little way he put forth his paw and gave the hare a deep scratch. He then 

 withdrew his paw, and lay quite still. The hare at once put down the bundle, and 

 understood how matters lay. He did not pretend that he knew, for he said : " Oh, 

 there seems to have been a thorn in the bundle." He then roped the bundle very 

 firmly, taking care to tie the paws strongly, and then, putting the bundle on his 

 head, went along to a stretch of forest. He placed the leopard in the wood, and 

 went off to fetch his knife. Immediately he had gone the leopard tore open the 

 bundle, and sat up to wait for the hare's return. " III show him how to hunt, and 

 to say ' zoooooooooooooo ' and to hold down his head. Fll show him how to cut slices 



off my friend the elephant " He raised his head, and there was the hare in view, 



returning with a knife ; but on seeing the leopard alive he bolted, and ran into a 

 hole in the ground, where the leopard could not follow him. 



" Come out," said the leopard, sniffing vainly at the hole. 



" Come in," said the hare. 



The leopard saw it was useless trying to coax the hare to come out, so he said 

 to a crow that sat on a branch just above the hole : " Mr. Crow, will you watch this 

 hole whilst I run for some fire to burn the hare out?" 



"Yes,' replied the crow, "but don't be long away, as I have to go to my nest 

 at Wakoli's this evening." 



The leopard went for the fire, and the hare, having heard that the crow was 

 keeping watch, said : " You are very hungry, crow, I am certain —eh % '"' 



" Yes, very," replied the crow. 



"Are you fond of white ants, for, if you are, I have a lot of them down here V 



L ' Throw me some up, and ' webale ' " (" thank you "). 



'' Come near the hole, and I will." 



The crow came near. 



" Now open your eyes and mouth wide," said the hare. 



