But shaggy Mishka slept soundly as if nothing had really happened. He was whistling through his nose.
"He is pretending to be asleep," said Mosquito Long-Nose. "I'll show him who I am. Hey, Uncle, enough of this make-believe!"
And with this, Mosquito Long-Nose flew at the bear, aimed at his black nose and pierced it with his mosquito-sting. Mishka fairly jumped, grabbing his nose with his paw; but Mosquito Long-Nose was already too far away.
"Well, Uncle, you did not seem to like that," squealed Mosquito Long-Nose. "Go away or it will be the worse for you. I'm not alone. With me, is Grandfather, Mosquito Longer-Nose, and my younger brother, Mosquito Longest-Nose. Better go away, Uncle."
"I will not go away!" shouted the bear, sitting down on his haunches. "I'll crush you all to death!"
"Oh, uncle, you're boasting foolishly."
Once more, Mosquito Long-Nose flew at the bear and this time he aimed at his eye. Mishka groaned with pain, and slapped his paw over his face, trying to catch the mosquito. Again he failed and he only scratched his face in the effort. Mosquito Long-Nose was meanwhile buzzing by close to his ear and threatening Mishka, "I'll eat you up, Uncle."
III
MISHKA grew angry and angrier. He grabbed a birch tree and tore it up by the roots, aiming it at the mosquitoes. He waved it and waved it until he grew very tired, but he did not succeed in killing a single mosquito. They just swarmed and buzzed a little beyond his reach. Then Mishka took a huge stone and hurled it at the Mosquitoes, but all in vain.
"Well, Uncle," squealed Mosquito Long-Nose, "I'll eat you up after all."