But the rest of the flock just flew at her. The poor old thing was glad to get away and hide.
"Come on, brothers!" shouted Mosquito Long-Nose, louder than the rest. "We will show him who we are!"
The whole flock followed Mosquito Long-Nose. They came to the spot where Mishka was lying as still as death.
"Didn't I say he died of fright?" boasted Mosquito Long-Nose. "It's a pity! He was a fine, strong bear!"
"Brothers, he is only asleep," piped a tiny mosquito, flying close to Mishka's nose and being almost blown to pieces by the wind from the bear's nostrils.
"The shameless rascal!" squealed the Mosquitoes in chorus. "He crushed five hundred of us ... swallowed another hundred ... and now he sleeps as if nothing had happened."