“Well, if you must have it that way, it’s because I’m more intelligent than you that I’m going to eat you now! Get ready to be eaten, lazy bee!”
And the snake drew back to strike, and lap up the bee at one gobble.
But the little bee had time to say:
“It’s because you’re duller than I am that you eat me!”
“Duller than you?” asked the snake, letting his head down again. “How is that, stupid?”
“However it is, it’s so!”
“I’ll have to be shown!” said the snake. “I will make a bargain with you. We will each do a trick; and the cleverest trick wins. If I win, I’ll eat you!”
“And if I win?” asked the little bee.
“If you win,” said the snake after some thought, “you may stay in here where it is warm all night. Is it a bargain?”
“It is,” said the bee.