The Man and the Serpent

　　THE WEASELS and the Mice waged a perpetual war with each other,

　　in which much blood was shed. The Weasels were always the

　　victors. The Mice thought that the cause of their frequent

　　defeats was that they had no leaders set apart from the general

　　army to command them, and that they were exposed to dangers from

　　lack of discipline. They therefore chose as leaders Mice that

　　were most renowned1 for their family descent, strength, and

　　counsel, as well as those most noted2 for their courage in the

　　fight, so that they might be better marshaled in battle array and

　　formed into troops, regiments3, and battalions4. When all this was

　　done, and the army disciplined, and the herald5 Mouse had duly

　　proclaimed war by challenging the Weasels, the newly chosen

　　generals bound their heads with straws, that they might be more

　　conspicuous to all their troops. Scarcely had the battle begun,

　　when a great rout6 overwhelmed the Mice, who scampered7 off as fast

　　as they could to their holes. The generals, not being able to

　　get in on account of the ornaments8 on their heads, were all

　　captured and eaten by the Weasels.

　　The more honor the more danger.