II Why the Small-ant Was the Winner
One day a fierce Driver-ant70 and a Small-ant had a long discussion as to which of them was the stronger. The Driver-ant boasted of his size, the strength of his mandibles, and the fierceness of his bite.
“Yes, all that may be true,” quietly answered the Small-ant, “and yet with all your size and strong jaws you cannot do what I can do.”
“What is that?” sneeringly asked the Driver-ant.
“You cannot cut a piece of skin off the back of that man’s hand, and drop it down here,” replied the Small-ant.
“Can’t I? All of you wait and see,” said the Driver-ant.
Away he climbed up the man until he reached the back of his hand. At the first bite of the strong mandibles, the man started, and, looking down at his hand, saw the Driver-ant, picked it off, and dropped it dead at his feet right among the waiting crowd of ants.
The Small-ant then climbed to the place, and gently, softly, with great patience he worked round a piece of skin until it was loose, and he was able to drop it to the ground. The waiting throng of ants proclaimed him the winner, for he had done by his gentleness and patience what the other had failed to do by his strength and fierceness.