The Lion and the Mouse

One warm afternoon, a Lion was taking a nap in the shade of a great tree. He was the biggest, strongest creature in all the forest, and he snored so loudly that the leaves trembled.

A small Mouse came scurrying past, not looking where she was going, and ran right across the Lion's nose.

The Lion woke up with a ROAR. He slapped one enormous paw down on the Mouse and held her fast.

"Who dares to wake a lion?" he thundered.

"Oh please!" squeaked the Mouse. "I am so very sorry! It was an accident! Please let me go, and one day — I promise — I will help you."

The Lion looked down at the tiny creature trembling under his paw and began to laugh. "You? Help me? A great lion?" He laughed until his mane shook. But he was in a good mood after his nap, and he liked the Mouse's spirit. So he lifted his paw and let her go.

"Run along, little Mouse," he said.

Weeks passed. One day, the Lion walked into a trap that hunters had set — a great net of thick ropes, hidden under leaves. He roared and thrashed, but the more he struggled, the tighter the ropes became.

The Mouse was nearby and heard the roar. She recognised it at once.

She ran to the net and began to gnaw. Gnaw, gnaw, gnaw — her tiny teeth worked fast. One rope snapped. Then another. Then another.

The Lion stepped free.

He looked at the little Mouse and had nothing at all to say.

"You laughed," she said. "But I told you I would help."

The Lion bent his great head. "You did," he said. "And I thank you."

From that day on, they were friends.