One day the Lion, the King of the Jungle, was sitting on top

of his rock in the sun, looking down at his jungle kingdom.

Everything was quiet. All the animals feared him, and stayed

far away from the lion. He’d finished his dinner, he was

bored and lonely and tired. It was time for a nap. He laid

his great head on his giant paws, and soon his snores filled

the jungle.

A little mouse wandered past. He saw the great lion fast

asleep on his rock.

“Well,” said the mouse, “This is my chance to get up

close to the fearsome beast!” and he climbed up close to

the lion. The lion slept on.

“I think I’ll have some fun,” said the mouse, and

climbed onto the lion’s back. He played with the tawny

lion’s mane. He studied the ears, and gently pulled a

whisker. Still the lion slept on. The mouse decided to use

the lion’s head as a slide – right down to his paws. But

at that moment the lion woke up and – put his giant paw,

claws out, over the mouse.

“How dare you play games with me, little mouse. Don’t

you know that I am the King of the Jungle!” and he roared.

The mouse shook with fright. “Please don’t eat me!’

“You are such a little mouthful, you’re hardly worth my

opening my mouth,” said the lion, not hungry at all after

his big meal. “Still, you’ll do as a snack.”

“Please! Please don’t eat me. If you spare my life, one

day I’ll save your life in return,” said the mouse.

When he heard that, the lion roared with laughter. “What,

you little squirt, how can you ever help great mighty me?

But just for fun, I’ll let you go.” The lion lifted his

mighty paw. The mouse thanked the lion, repeated his promise

of help, and scuttled away into the jungle.

The next day, hunters came to the jungle. They spread a rope

net right by the lion’s den, and when the lion came home,

he was trapped in the net and couldn’t move.

Again his roars filled the jungle, this time full of despair

and fear. “Please come and help me, someone, anyone!”

Most animals stayed far away from the dangerous beast. But

the little mouse came close, and studied the situation.

“The hunters have used just one rope to make this net.

Stay still please,” said the mouse. “I will set you

free.” And the mouse began to gnaw with his sharp little

teeth on the rope around the lion. He nibbled and chewed and

gnawed , until finally he bit through the rope. The lion

rose to his feet and shrugged the rest of the rope off him.

“You have indeed saved my life,” said the lion, and

bowed before the little mouse. “Please be my friends, and

accept my gratitude.” And the lion and the mouse became

great friends.