Once upon a time, there was a small boy named Musau.

He lived with his father Syonzola.

Syonzola stayed out drinking until very late every night.

Musau hardly ever saw him.

When Syonzola came home, he would scream, "Villagers! Villagers! Come and rescue me! I am being attacked by a hyena."

On hearing Syonzola's screams, the villagers would come with their arrows, spears and machetes, to rescue him.

But they would find that he was drunk and just teasing them.

Syonzola continued drinking and shouting for help late at night. The villagers continued going with arrows, spears and machetes to rescue him.

But each time it was the same story. He would only be teasing them.

Every time Syonzola returned home late, Musau would be woken by his screams for help.

Musau knew his father's voice very well. He would listen as Syonzola moved in the dark until he reached the door of their house.

One night, Syonzola came home drunk as usual. But this time, a hyena actually hid near the house.

When he screamed, the hyena fiercely attacked him.

Syonzola screamed so loudly. But the villagers said, "We are tired of Syonzola's tricks." 

They turned over in their beds and went back to sleep.

As usual, Syonzola's screams woke up his son. On that night, Musau listened for his father's steps as he always did.

But his father did not seem to move closer to the house. Musau sat up and listened more keenly.

"My father is really in danger," Musau said. "This time he is not teasing."

Musau jumped up from his bed.

He grabbed a smouldering log from the fire and rushed out of the hut.

"Father, father," he called. In the moonlight, Musau saw Syonzola struggling with an animal.

He raised the burning log. When the hyena saw the fiery log, he ran away.

After that, Syonzola never went out again to drink.

He spent his days telling interesting stories to the school children.