Oldal 322 [322]
"THE"OUEEN"BEE"
WO kings sons once started to seek
adventures, and fell into a wild, reckless
way of living, and gave up all thoughts
of going home again. ‘Their third and
youngest brother, who was called
Witling, and had remained behind,
started off to seek them; and when at
last he found them, they jeered at his
simplicity in thinking that he could
make his way in the world, while they who were so much
cleverer were unsuccessful. But they all three went on to¬
gether until they came to an ant-hill, which the two eldest
brothers wished to stir up, that they might see the little ants
hurry about in their fright and carrying off their eggs, but
Witling said,
- Leave the little creatures alone, I will not suffer them to
be disturbed.”
And they went on farther until they came to a lake, where
a number of ducks were swimming about. ‘The two eldest
brothers wanted to catch a couple and cook them, but
Witling would not allow it, and said, ‘‘ Leave the creatures
alone, I will not suffer them to be killed.”
And then they came to a bee’s-nest in a tree, and there was
so much honey in it that it overflowed and ran down the
trunk. ‘The two eldest brothers then wanted to make a fire
beneath the tree, that the bees might be stifled by the smoke,
and then they could get at the honey. But Witling prevented
them, saying,
bh |}
\
NON ene