Only human beings had legs because Maguru had given legs to humans.
Siku rin’wana, Maguru u tekile xiboho xa ku nyika xihari xin’wana na xin’wana milenge. U rhendzelekile na tiko a swi tivisa hi xitwarisarito. A a lava leswaku xihari xin’wana na xin’wana xi famba ku fana na munhu.
One day, Maguru decided to give legs to every animal.
He walked round the village announcing from a loudspeaker.
He wanted each animal to walk like a human being.
Swihari a swi tsakile loko swi twa leswaku swi ta nyikiwa milenge. Xihari xin’wana na xin’wana a xi lava ku va na milenge ku endlela leswaku xi ta kota ku famba na ku tsutsuma. Swi yimbelela, swi tlhengusa micila ya swona na ku kapakapisa timpapa ta swona.
The animals were happy when they heard that they would be given legs.
Each animal wanted to have legs so that it could walk and run.
They sang, wagged their tails and flapped their wings.
Swihari swi hlanganile kutani swi vulavula hilaha a swi tikeriwa hakona eka ku kasa. Misava a yi hala makhwiri ya swona. Milenge na yona yi ta swi pfuna ku kota ku yima na ku vona ekule, ku fana na leswi swi endliwaka hi vanhu.
Animals gathered and discussed how difficult it was to crawl.
The ground scratched their bellies.
Legs would also help them to stand and see far, like human beings did.
Loko siku ri fika, swihari swo tala swi kasile ku ya endlwini ya Maguru ku ya kuma milenge ya swona. Tinhutlwa, tinghala, tindlopfu, makondlo na swinyenyana swi forile layeni ivi swi yimela ku nyikiwa milenge.
When the day came, many animals crawled to Maguru’s house to get their legs.
Giraffes, lions, elephants, rabbits, crocodiles, and birds queued and waited to be given legs.
Xihari xin’wana na xin’wana xi nyikiwile mune wa milenge. Swinyenyana xin’wana na xin’wana xi nyikiwile milenge yimbirhi.
Each animal was given four legs.
Birds were given two legs each.
Swihari a swi languteka ku hambana loko swi ri ni milenge. Swin’wana swi cincile hi ntsako. Swin’wana swi vile ni ku tikeriwa loko swi famba ivi swi wela ehansi.
They walked round the village showing off to human beings.
All the animals said, “We will never crawl again.”
Xihari xo hetelela elayinini ku vile khongoloti. Maguru u vutisile a ku, “Xana ka ha ri na un’wana endzhaku ka wena?” “E-e, hi mina wo hetelela,” ku hlamula Khongoloti.
The last animal in the queue was the millipede.
Maguru asked, “Is there anyone else after you?”
“No, I am the last one,” Millipede answered.
Maguru u ehleketile, “Loko ku nga ha ri na un’wana, xana ndzi ta endla yini hi milenge leyi nga sala?” Maguru u nyikile Khongoloti milenge hinkwayo leyi nga sala.
UMaguru wacabanga, “Pho uma kungasekho muntu, ngizoyenzani yonke le milenze esele?” UMaguru wanika uShongololo yonke imilenze esele.
UMaguru wacinga, “Kulungile ke, xa kungasekho mntu, ndiza kuyenzani yonke le milenze eshiyekileyo?” UMaguru wanika uSongololo yonke imilenze eshiyekileyo.
Maguru thought, “If there is no one else, what will I do with the rest of the legs?”
Maguru gave all the remaining legs to Millipede.
Khongoloti ri suke ri famba ri tsakile swinene hikuva a ri ri na milenge yo tala. “Ndzi ta famba hi ku hatlisa ku tlula lavan’wana,” ri ehleketa.
Maguru checked in his house to see whether there were any legs remaining.
But he did not find any.
Maguru u humele ehandle kutani a ku, “Ndzi rivaleli, Nyoka, a ka ha ri na milenge leyi nga sala.” Nyoka yi kasile yi tlhelela ekaya handle ka milenge. Ku sukela siku rero Nyoka a ya zangi yi etlela ngopfu. Mikarhi hinkwayo yi le ku yimeleni ka nkateko wun’wana wa ku kuma milenge.
Maguru came out and said, “Sorry, Snake, there are no legs remaining.” Snake had to crawl back home without legs.
Since that day Snake does not sleep much.
He is always waiting for the next chance to get legs.
