Page:Swahili tales.djvu/394

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SUNGURA NA SIMBA.

ngumu. Simba akamwuliza, nikufanyeje bassi? Akamwambia, nikamata mkia unizungushe, kiisha unipige na inchi, bassi utanila. Simba akahadaika, akamzungusha, akitaka kumpiga, akachopoka mkononi, akaenda mbio. Akamkosa sungura.

Akamwambia kobe, shuka na weye. Akashuka. Akamwambia, nikufanyeje nawe? Akamwambia, nitia katika tope, unisugue hivi, hatta nibanduke maganda. Akamchukua simba, akaenda naye majini akamsugua, kobe akakimbia, simba akasugua mikono hatta ikachubuka. Akaangalia mikono yake inatoka damu, akanena, amenitenda leo sungura. Akaenda kumtafuta.

Akauliza, nyumba ya sungura i wapi? Wakamwambia, hatuijui. Na sungura amemwambia mkewe, tuhame nyumba hii. Wakahama. Simba akaenda kuuliza, wakamwambia watu, nyumba yake ile juu ya mlima. Akaenda simba, hatta akifika, hako sungura. Akasema, nitajificha ndani ya nyumba, hatta sungura akija na mkewe, nitawala wote wawili.

Akaja sungura, yee na mkewe, hana habari, hatta njiani akaona miguu ya simba, akamwambia mkewe, rudi weye, simba amepita hapa ananitafuta mimi. Akamwambia, sirudi, nitakufuata mume wangu. Akamwambia, weye mtoto wa watu, rudi. Akarudi. Sungura akaenenda, akafuata miguu, akaona imeingia ndani ya nyumba yake. Akasema—Loo! simba umo ndani.