one day three men got a bottle of wine. but the wine was not enough for the three and each of them wanted to drink the wine alone. then they all agreed that they each would draw a snake on the ground and the one who first finished drawing would be given the wine. so they began to draw on the ground with sticks.

　　it was not long before one of the three finished drawing his snake. he took up the bottle of wine with pride. he was about to drink when he found the other two were still busy with their drawings. “how slow you are!” said he, “i can even add feet to my snake before you finish yours.” he put down the bottle and began to add feet to his snake. but before he finished, another man took hold of the bottle and said ,“i've finished. snakes have no feet, so yours is not a snake.” with these words he drank up the wine.