Only human beings had legs because Maguru had given legs to humans.
Liṅwe ḓuvha Maguru a dzudzanya u fha phukha milenzhe. A tshimbila u mona na muvhundu a tshi khou ḓivhadza nga khudzaipfi. U khou ṱoḓa phukha dzi tshi tshimbila sa vhathu.
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.
Phukha dzo takalela u pfa uri dzi ḓo fhiwa milenzhe. Phukha iṅwe na iṅwe yo vha i khou ṱoḓa u vha na milenzhe uri i kone u tshimbila na u gidima. Dza imba dza dzungudza mitshila na u ṱharamudza phapha.
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.
Phukha dza kuvhangana dza amba nga vhukonḓi ha u kokovha. Mavu na matombo zwi hwaya thumbu musi zwi tshi kokovha. Milenzhe i ḓo thusa uri zwi ime zwi vhone kule sa zwine vhathu vha itisa zwone.
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.
Musi tshifhinga tsho swika phukha dza kokovha dza ya nḓuni ya Maguru u wana milenzhe. Thudwa ndau, mbila, nngweṋa na zwiṋoni zwa rwa muduba uri zwi ṋeiwe milenzhe.
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.
They walked round the village showing off to human beings.
All the animals said, “We will never crawl again.”
Phukha ya u fhedzisela kha muduba yo vha ḓongololo. Maguru a vhudzisa, “Hu tshe na muṅwe nga murahu hanu?” “Hai, Ndi nṋe wa u fhedzisela,” ḓongololo ḽa fhindila.
Maguru checked in his house to see whether there were any legs remaining.
But he did not find any.
Maguru a bvela nnḓa ari, “Pfarelo, Ṋowa, a hu na milenzhe yo salaho.” Ṋowa ya fanela u kokovha i tshi humela hayani i si na milenzhe. U bva ḽeneḽo ḓuvha Ṋowa a i eḓelesi. I khou lindela tshiṅwe tshikhala tsha u wana milenzhe.
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.