The Wolf, the Snail, and the Wasps

Once upon a time, a wolf was walking through the forest and stepped on a snail.

In those days, animals could still speak like humans. So the snail said to him:

— How cruel you are, wolf! Why are you trampling on the weak? And what are you so proud of? If I wanted, I could run faster than you. Let's make a bet that you and your wolf friends will be out of breath trying to catch up with me.

— You? Not catch up with you, you pathetic creature?
— Yes, me, wolf. Come here tomorrow at sunrise with your pack, and we'll see who reaches the banks of the Garonne first.
— Fine, we'll come.

The wolf continued on his way. He hadn't gone even twenty steps when he stepped on a wasp nest.

— How cruel you are, wolf! Why are you trampling on the weak? We, the wasps, may be small, but we are not afraid of you. Do you want to make a bet that we will drown you and your wolf friends?

— You? This bunch of tiny creatures?
— Yes, us, wolf. Come here tomorrow at sunrise with your pack, and we'll see how long it takes us to drown you in the Garonne.
— Fine, you little pests, we'll come.

The wolf immediately went to warn his pack. Meanwhile, the snail said to the wasps:

— Friends, alert your entire wasp community. My snail friends will also gather without fail. Hide in the branches of the willows that grow along the banks of the Garonne. We will drive the wolves to you, and when the time is right, attack them and sting them until they jump into the water.

— Alright, snail, we'll do just that.

And the wasps flew off to fulfill their promise. Meanwhile, the snail placed her friends along the entire path to the banks of the Garonne, one snail every five steps.

The next morning, at sunrise, the wolves and the snail were already at the starting point.

— Are you here, snail?
— Here, wolves. Let's begin.

The wolves dashed off at a gallop. As they ran, they shouted:

— Where are you, snail?
— Here, wolves,— replied the snails placed along the road every five steps.

When the wolves reached the banks of the Garonne, the wasps swarmed out of the willow leaves and, attacking the beasts, began to sting them painfully, buzzing loudly:

— Harder! Harder!

The poor wolves rushed into the river and didn't dare to stick anything out of the water except the tips of their snouts.

— Aim for the nose, the nose!— buzzed the wasps, swooping down on the wolves' noses and stinging them relentlessly.

The wolves all drowned, and the snails and wasps, very pleased, returned to the forest.

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The Wolf, the Snail, and the Wasps

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