Rescue! Read Free

each other.
    â€œWay to go, Hannah! You sure had them running scared.” The girls couldn’t stop giggling.
    â€œOh, I’m good!” Hannah was pleased as punch with her efforts! “Did you see how fast they ran?”
    But Bindi was already investigating the equipment the men had left scattered on the ground.
    Moments later, Bindi heard another loud growl from behind her.
    â€œIt’s okay, Hannah!” said Bindi as she bent down to look at the wire cutters. “The men are long gone!”
    â€œAh, Bindi—” Hannah whispered quietly to her friend.
    â€œYeah, yeah, you’re king of the jungle,” joked Bindi, distracted.
    â€œTurn around very slowly,” Hannah cautioned. She pointed a little distance away from the wire fence. “Look.”
    Bindi turned to see what Hannah was pointing at.
    Not ten feet from the girls, swishing a very angry tail, stood a fully grown lioness.

Hannah and Bindi remained frozen to the spot. They watched transfixed as the lioness paced restlessly in front of them.
    â€œWell, you got your lion,” Hannah whispered to Bindi.
    â€œSure did,” replied Bindi. It was just as Thabu had said. “Right when I least expected it.”
    The closer the lioness paced, the more she blocked off their only escape option. Hannah carefully backed up to where Bindi was pinned against the tall wire fence.
    â€œLet’s try moving slowly to the right,” suggested Bindi. She took a step and indicated for Hannah to do the same.
    But the lioness didn’t like that and let out an angry growl. The girls froze.
    Just then a gorgeous little lion cub came tumbling out of the bushes. The lioness nudged him with her nose while keeping a steady eye on the girls.
    â€œNo wonder she’s upset,” gasped Bindi. “She’s got cubs to protect.”
    Bindi took another step. She knew that you should never get mixed up with a mother and her babies. The mother would do anything to protect them. They had to get away, and fast.
    As Bindi took another step she stumbled on something sharp. She looked down to see the pair of wire cutters.
    Of course!
    She nudged Hannah. “Let’s get to the hole in the fence!” It was their only hope—but the hole was closer to the lioness than they were!
    Bindi took a deep breath. If they were very slow and still with their movements, the lioness might lose interest in them. She didn’t seem to be on the lookout for food, which was a huge relief. The lioness kept a sharp eye on the girls as they began their slow journey toward the hole in the fence, keeping her cubs away from the two humans.
    After what seemed like hours later, Bindi finally reached the break in the fence. She struggled to pull back the stiff and heavy steel mesh so that they could squeeze through.
    â€œYou go first, and make it quick!” Bindi nodded to Hannah while she held back the opening. With a swift glance at the lion, Hannah crawled through to the other side.
    Bindi passed her the wire cutters and canvas bag the men had dropped. There might be food in the bag and it could be a long time before they found help.
    Once Bindi was through to the other side, the girls looked for pieces of bush to cover up the hole. They didn’t want a protective mother lion taking too much of an interest in them!

“Phew!” Hannah sank down to the ground as if her legs could no longer hold her. “Now that was scary.”
    Bindi joined her friend. “Yeah, definitely a close call!”
    The sound of a distant engine interrupted them, and they saw far-off headlights that were getting closer by the moment.
    They jumped up for a better look and called out, “Hey, over here!” They did their best to get the driver’s attention, Hannah waving the wire cutters.
    A loudspeaker came on with a loud crackle. A voice rang out: “Drop your weapons and freeze!”
    In an instant they were blinded by the