| Boetie and
How the Ridgeback Got the Tail!
by Elizabeth Akers, Rescue Coordinator
Boetie sniffed the blue frilled koggelmander
warily. He was not used to the scent of the lizard, and wondered
if it was edible. As he tried to grasp it in his mouth a loud
hiss from the lizard sent him running backward. His sister,
Bessie, fell as he cannoned into her. She got up shaking the
red dust from her tawny coat and gurmpled at Boetie, saying,
"We should go and look for dinner as it is growing late."
Boetie gave up his pursuit of the koggelmander and together
the two pups strode off through the rocky ground in search
of food. Neither pup noticed that they were not alone.
Old man Simba lay in the sun atop the kopje.
He watched from slitted eyes as the two pups hunted amongst
the rocks. He knew that Boetie would eventually get himself,
and perhaps his sister too, in some sort of trouble. Simba
noticed that big Bobbejaan was also watching the pups. He
roared his displeasure at the sight of Bobbejaan nearby. He
rose gracefully and slowly made his way toward the big baboon.
Bobbejaan was very cunning though and he scrambled closer
to where Boetie and Bessie were stalking a dassie amongst
the rocks of the kopje. He thought Simba would not dare to
chase him if he were near the Ridgeback pups. Bessie was so
engrossed in the hunt that she failed to move quickly enough,
out of Bobbejaan's reach. Bobbejaan grabbed her by her long
tail. She yelped as his hand took hold of the base of her
tail. Bessie scambled to get behind a rock, but Bobbejaan
held fast. Boetie came running, growling at Bobbejaan to let
go of his sister. Bobbejaan hung on tighter. Being a very
arrogant baboon, he was not going to allow Simba to chase
*him* away from the kopje. He was also not going to let go
of this pup he held, as he knew Simba would not come too close
to the dog. Simba roared at Bobbejaan, Bessie yelped and whimpered,
Boetie howled his rage, all three animals feeling powerless,
in their own way, against sly old Bobbejaan. Mantis, who we
all know created everything, stood tall and rubbed his two
front legs together, as if praying. From between his feet
shot a bolt of lightning, it hit Bobbejaan's hand as he tried
to keep a firm grip on Bessie's tail. The lightning burnt
Bobbejaan's hand, but it also burnt a small part of Bessie's
tail. Mantis spoke from the kopje, "Let it be known that the
mark of the Mantis protects all these dogs from harm forthwith."
He went on to say that the Ridgeback was forever more to be
recognized by the mark on the tail, and that this mark would
show all that the Ridgeback was a very agile animal. All dogs
so marked would be able to stay out of reach of any baboon.
Bobbejaan slunk back to his home nursing his
sore hand. Simba looked down at Mantis, raised an eyebrow
and asked what form the mark would take. Mantis did not reply.
Boetie licked Bessie's burnt skin and they walked
slowly home. They slept well that night, they were both so
tired. In the morning, their mother asked why Bessie had not
washed her tail and to go and remove the dirt at once. Bessie
tried and tried to lick away the little diamond shape at the
top of her tail, and it would not go away. Boetie told his
mother what Mantis had said about the mark on Bessie's tail.
Their mother looked more closely at the mark which Bessie
was still vainly trying to lick off her tail. There was a
perfect diamond shape made by the burnt hair. To this day,
Mantis' words have proved true. All Ridgebacks are marked
with Mantis' own brand. They all have the diamond at the base
of their tail, and marked dogs are very agile. Do you really
think Mantis could have made the diamond just to show everyone
how agile Ridgebacks are? You will have to ask Mantis.
|
|
The Boetie Stories
Boetie is the creation of Elizabeth Akers.
He is a brave young ridgeback who is at wonder at the world
around him. He has many adventures and is the originator of
many ridgeback characterics. He and his siblings will show
you what ridgebacks are all about.
|
