71 L> 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 leo])ard 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 jiresently 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 ! ^Iv. Hare, so you meant to kill me with that stone ? 

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

 his ' zoooooooooooooo.' Never mind, Mr. Hare, just Avait 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 1 had my knife. As 

 it is, I must carry hin^ 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 Avas 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 ]rat down the bundle, and 

 understood how matters lay. He did not pretend that he kneAv, 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 paAvs strongly, and then, putting tlie bundle on his 

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

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

 bundle, and sat up to Avait for the hare's return. " I'll shoAV him hoAv to hunt, and 

 to .say 'zoooooooooooooo' and to hold doAvn his head. 171 shoAv him how to cut slices 



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



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

 hole in the ground, Avliere the leopard could not folloAV him. 



'' Come out," said the leoi)ard, snitting vainly at the hole. 



'■ Come in," said the hare. 



The leopard saw it Avas useless trying to coax the bare to come out, so he said 

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

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



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

 at Wakoli's this evening." 



The leoi)ard Avent for the fire, and the hare, having heard that the croAv Avas 

 keei>ing Avatch, said : " You are very hungry, croAv, I am certain —eh 'I " 



" Ye.s, very," rei)lied the crow. 



"Are you fond of Avhite ants, for, if yon are, I have a lot of them down here T 



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



'■ Come near the hole, and I Avill." 



The crow came near. 



" Xow nppii your eyes and month wide," .said the hare. 



