His Father's Son: The Hunt

After scratching his head for a minute, wondering what he could do about the matter, he said to the elders, "I'm now old and can barely find my way into the forests of Manlaturu.
I will instruct Mannu my son on what to do about the lion and he will get rid of it, hopefully."

The elders looked at one another and heaved a sigh of relief.
The eldest elder thanked Muturu and wished him long life and good health. Then they all stood up and left.

Early in the morning, Muturu woke up his son Mannu and intimated him on the elder's visit. He instructed Mannu to prepare himself and take his newest local rifle and go into the forests of Manlaturu in order to hunt the lion.

Manlaturu prepared himself, stocked his hunter's bag with extra ammunition, some food and water.

Around 3:00 pm in the afternoon, Mannu set off on his 1 hour journey to the forests of Manlaturu.

As he made his way to the edge of the forest, thoughts of how to kill the lion occupied his mind.

He remembered the years he accompanied his father on his hunting expeditions and what his father had taught him about tracking all sorts of wild animals.

He decided that if he were to succeed in killing the lion quickly, he had to covertly track the creature to its lair.

Around 3:30 pm Mannu saw the remains of a goat that was still fresh.
As he observed the grounds around the goat's carcass, he saw the footprints of the lion and started tracking it.

After one hour of following the lion's footprints up and down the forest he finally saw the lion taking a nap under the cool shade of a baobab tree.

Mannu quickly hid himself and took a closer look at the lion. When he was sure the lion was actually sleeping, he changed his position to a more convenient one that will enable him shoot the lion in the heart.

Mannu unslung his rifle and took aim at the lion's chest and fired.
The shot rang out putting all creatures around that part of the forest to flight.

The short hit the lion on the chest burying several iron balls deep within its heart.
It winced in pain and tried to get up, but its heart failed him and he slumped back in his former sleeping position and gave up the ghost.

Mannu bravely carried the young lion back to his father's house.

The news of his great valour soon spread throughout the village and neighbouring communities.

The people of Manlaturu both old and young brought Mannu several gifts. And the story of his exploit
s was told for many years to come.