Page:Swahili tales.djvu/447

Rh The first day when he went to the traps an ape was taken. And he wanted to kill it. And the ape said, "You son of Adam, do not kill me. Come and take me out of the trap; save me from rain, that I may come and save you from sun." When he had finished taking out the ape, it said, "I give you my word that no son of Adam is good; do not do good to him; if you do, to-morrow he will come and do you harm."

Then, the second day, he came trying the traps, and a snake was taken. And he ran to call people from the town. And the snake said, "Come back, son of Adam, do not run to the town, do not go and call people to me to come and kill me. Help me out of this trap, and to-morrow I will come and help you; but a son of Adam does good to no one."

The third day he went to try the traps, and reached them, and a lion was caught by a trap. The man who owned the trap saw an old lion caught in the trap, and ran to go and call people to come and kill it. And the lion said, "No; save me in rain, and I will come and save you in sun." But when he had finished letting it out of the trap, the lion said to him, "Son of Adam, you have helped me, you have done good to me; but I declare to you my word, a son of Adam does not do good." Another day a man was taken in the trap, and the owner of the trap let him loose.

At last that youth's food was finished in all the houses, and they were taken with hunger, he and his mother. And he said to his mother, "Mother, make me seven cakes." When she had finished making the seven cakes, he took hold of his bow, and went into the forest to hunt game. And he lost himself, and ate six cakes, and when they were done one remained.

When that one remained he went, till in the forest was