‘Serpent!’ screamed the Pigeon. 🔊

‘I’m not a serpent!’ said Alice indignantly. ‘Let me alone!’ 🔊

‘Serpent, I say again!’ repeated the Pigeon, but in a more subdued tone,

and added with a kind of sob, ‘I’ve tried every way, and nothing seems

to suit them!’ 🔊

‘I haven’t the least idea what you’re talking about,’ said Alice. 🔊

‘I’ve tried the roots of trees, and I’ve tried banks, and I’ve tried

hedges,’ the Pigeon went on, without attending to her; 🔊 ‘but those

serpents! There’s no pleasing them!’ 🔊

Alice was more and more puzzled, but she thought there was no use in

saying anything more till the Pigeon had finished. 🔊

‘As if it wasn’t trouble enough hatching the eggs,’ said the Pigeon; 🔊

‘but I must be on the look-out for serpents night and day! 🔊 Why, I

haven’t had a wink of sleep these three weeks!’ 🔊

‘I’m very sorry you’ve been annoyed,’ said Alice, who was beginning to

see its meaning. 🔊