very thirsty. But the sun had taken all the water near the Lion's home and he
went to many places seeking for it. In time he found an old well, but the water
was not fresh. As the Lion was very thirsty, he said, 'I must drink, even though
the water is stale.'
"But when he reached down into the old well, he found that it was the home of
all the Mosquitoes of the wilderness.
"The Mosquitoes said to the Lion, 'Go away, we do not want you. This is our
home and we are happy. We do not wish the lion, the fox, or the bear to come
here. You are not our friend. Why do you come?"
"The Lion roared and said, 'Weak and foolish things! I am the Lion. It is you that
should go away, for I have come to drink. This is my wilderness, and I am king.
Do you know, weak things, that when I come out from my place and send forth
my voice, all the creatures of the wilderness shake like leaves and bow their
heads to me? What are you that you should have a place you call your home and
tell me that I may or I may not?'
"Then the Mosquitoes answered, 'You are only one. You speak as if you were
many. Our people had this old well for a home before your roar was heard in the
wilderness. And many generations of us have been born here. This home is ours,
and we are they that say who shall come or go. And yet you come and tell us to
go out of our own door. If you do not leave us, we will call our people, and you
shall know trouble.'
"But the Lion held his head high with pride and anger and said, 'What are you,
oh, small of the small? I will kill every one of your useless people. When I drink,
I will open my mouth only a little wider, and you shall be swallowed like the
water. And to-morrow I shall forget that I drank to-day.'
"'Boastful one,' said the Mosquitoes, 'we do not believe that you have the power
to destroy all our people. If you wish battle, we shall see. We know your name is
great and that all animals bow their heads before you; but our people can kill
you.'
"The Lion jumped high in his rage and said, 'No other creature in the wilderness
has dared to say these things to me—the king. Have I come to the vile well of
the silly Mosquitoes for wisdom?' And he held his head high, and gave the
mighty roar of battle, and made ready to kill all the Mosquitoes.