It happened one fine day that seven men from a land called Swabia decided they were the bravest fellows around. "Let's go see the world!" said one. "And show everyone how brave we are!" said another. So, they made themselves one spear, oh, a very, very long spear, so long that all seven of them had to hold it together. Master Schulz, who was the oldest, always walked at the front.

Off they went, marching proudly with their single, shared spear. Soon, they came to a field where hay was being cut. Suddenly, a big bumblebee flew past, buzzing loudly, "BZZZZZZ!"
"Oh dear!" whispered one of the Swabians, whose name was Jackli. "That sounds like a war drum!"
"It must be the enemy!" cried another, named Marli.
"Quick, let's run!" shivered Jergli.
But Master Schulz, at the very front, puffed out his chest. "Hold fast!" he boomed. "We are brave Swabians! We fear nothing! If we run from a drum, what will people say?" He gripped the spear tighter. The others, though their knees knocked, held on too.
After a moment, the buzzing faded. They peeked around. It was only a bumblebee, looking for a flower. "Phew!" they all sighed. "We certainly scared that noisy fellow off!"

They marched on, feeling even braver. Soon, they came to another field. In the distance, they saw something sitting very still. It had two long things sticking up from its head and big, shiny eyes.
"Look!" whispered Veitli. "A monster!"
"With terrible horns!" added Michel.
"And fiery eyes!" gasped Hans.
"It's waiting to pounce!" squeaked Lenz.
Master Schulz squinted. "Indeed! A fearsome beast! Forward, brave Swabians! We shall defeat it! Point the spear!"
They all aimed their very long spear and crept closer, hearts going thump-thump-thump. They were about to charge when the "monster" wiggled its nose, hopped up, and bounded away with a flash of a white tail. It was a fluffy brown hare!
"Hah!" said Master Schulz, wiping his brow. "See how it ran from our might! We are truly the bravest!" The others cheered, very relieved.

Finally, the seven Swabians came to a wide, flowing river called the Moselle. There was no bridge. "How will we cross?" they wondered.
Just then, a man on the other side, who couldn't see them well through the reeds, was calling out to someone else. He shouted, "Wat? Wat? Wat?" which in his language meant, "What? What? What do you want?"
But the Swabians, who didn't understand his language, thought he was saying, "Wade! Wade! Wade through the water!"
"Aha!" said Master Schulz. "He says we can wade across! I, as the bravest, will go first!"
He stepped boldly into the river. But the bank was soft mud, and he began to sink! Glub, glub. His hat floated off his head and the wind blew it across to the other side.
Just then, a little green frog sitting on a lily pad near the far bank croaked, "Wat, wat, wat!"
The other six Swabians on the bank heard the frog. "Listen!" they cried. "That's Master Schulz! He's made it across and is calling for us! He's saying, 'Wade, wade, wade!'"
So, one by one, they all jumped into the river, expecting to wade. But, plop, splash, glug! They all sank into the soft mud, just like their leader.
And that was the end of the seven brave, but not very clever, Swabians and their grand adventure.

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