Then the ant went to the fire. "O Fire, I have hurt my leg. Will you help me?"
"I cannot," said the fire. "Ask the water. It is stronger than I, for it quenches me."
The ant went to the water and said, "O Water, I have hurt my leg. Will you help me?"
"I cannot," said the water. "Ask the ox. It is stronger than I, for it drinks me."
Then the ant went to the ox and said, "O Ox, I have hurt my leg. Will you help me?"
"I cannot," said the ox. Ask the knife. It is stronger than I, for it kills oxen."
Then the ant went to the knife. "O Knife, I have hurt my leg. Will you help me?"
"I cannot," said the knife. "Ask the blacksmith. He is stronger than I, for he made me."
So the ant went to the blacksmith and said, "O Blacksmith, I have hurt my leg. Will you help me?"
And the blacksmith took a tiny piece of hemp and bound up the leg, and the little ant crawled away home happy.
"Well, I 'm glad the poor ant got its leg fixed at last," said Juañita.
"I 'll show you that my legs are stronger than yours, Nita, by racing you to the house"; and the children were soon flying up the hill, with Tecla following leisurely after them.
