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The dry-season morning was quiet beneath
the wide acacia tree.

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Lion slept in its shade, his great paws
resting in the cool dust.

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Nearby, Mouse gathered fallen grass seeds,
carrying them towards his little burrow.

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He hurried around a stone, scampered over
Lion's paw by mistake, and stopped with a
squeak when one amber eye slowly opened.

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Lion placed one broad paw in front of
Mouse, stopping him without hurting him.

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Mouse's whiskers trembled.

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'Please let me go,' he said.

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'Perhaps I can help you one day.'

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Lion gave a soft, surprised chuckle.

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What help could such a tiny creature
offer?

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Still, the promise pleased him, and he
lifted his paw.

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Mouse bowed and hurried home.

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Several days later, Lion followed his
familiar path between the tall grasses.

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Without warning, a rope net dropped over
him.

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Its square mesh tangled around his mane
and paws, but he was not hurt.

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Lion pushed once, then felt the ropes
tighten.

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He made himself still.

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Drawing a deep breath, he called for help,
and his voice rolled across the grassland.

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At his burrow, Mouse was sorting seeds
when he heard the distant call.

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He knew that deep voice.

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Leaving his supper in the leaf cup, he
raced through the grass, under bending
stems and over warm stones.

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At last he reached the path.

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'Lion, I am here,' Mouse called.

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Lion turned his head, astonished to see
his smallest neighbour.

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Mouse walked around the net, studying
every rope.

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'These cords are thicker than you are,'
Lion said quietly.

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'That is true,' Mouse replied, 'but I only
need to work on one piece at a time.'

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He found the heavy anchor knot and set his
sharp front teeth against a single fibre.

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Lion rested his head and kept perfectly
still.

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Nibble by nibble, the rough fibre began to
fray.

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Mouse's whiskers grew dusty and his jaw
grew tired.

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He paused for one slow breath, then
started again.

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A strand snapped.

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The knot loosened.

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Soon a small opening became a wide one.

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Through it all, Lion waited patiently,
trusting Mouse instead of pulling against
the ropes.

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With one careful step, then another, Lion
slipped through the opening and stood
free.

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The loose net fell behind him.

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'You kept your promise,' he said.

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'Thank you, my friend.'

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Mouse rubbed his tired jaw and smiled.

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'Your paw was strong enough to spare me,'
he answered.

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'My teeth were small enough to free you.'

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Lion smiled back.

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The next morning, Mouse returned to gather
seeds beneath the acacia.

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Lion was resting there again, listening to
small birds in the branches.

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A few seeds lay beneath his tail, so Lion
moved it gently aside.

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Mouse filled his leaf cup, then settled
near one enormous paw.

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In the broad patch of shade, the two
friends shared the quiet morning.