Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-04-24
STORIES ABOUT FROGS.
H oyy ItLae Bees were RObbed-& Self
sacrificing Leader.
BROOKLYN Leader.


At dusk that evening the writer and
Father Wells were seated on the front
piazza of the latter's house in the
West Indies, smoking fragrant tobac-
co and quaffing cool Scotch ale, We
were on watch to determine what sort
of an animal had been robbing the
beehives. The full-orbed moon was
shining in thu tropical sky, illuminat-
ing one side and the front Of the house
and garden.
After waiting for perhaps three
quarters of an hour the watcher saw
a dark object ON the ground not far
from the bank of the stream For a
moment it seemed to rise and swell,
and then again it became a fixed spot
on the earth, but nearer to the watch
ers. This was repeated again and
again and again, and then it was dis
covered that beyond doubt the NOV
ing object was an immense frog AS
it hoped its body became blended
with its sharp-cut shadow, and thus
seemed to increase IN bulk. Slowly
and cautiously it approached the
house. Then the writer and Father
Wells made another discovery; prob
ably two score of dusky objects were
| following in its wake, rising and fall
ing and slowly advancing, hopping
when the advance guard hoped and
resting when it rested. Presently the
first frog crossed the ground in the
rear of the house and got into the
shadow of huge cotton tree. The
! others followed the leader All then
advanced more rapidly, hop, hop, hop
and a pause, as though accommodating,
and then hop, hop, hop, until they
got into the shadow Of the house.
The watchers reiterated from the
rear, where for some time they had
been observing the advancing host,
and took up a good position on the
front piazza. Presently the leader APP
peared round the corner of the mouse
and paused, evidently to see that the
coast was clear. Being fully satisfied
that
NO ENEMY WAS NEAR, be BOLDLY
advanced. followed by the main body
of the army. Within two yards of
| the hives the main part rested on
their launches, while the leader hop
ped, with a resolute air, toward the
center line. Pausing a moment, as
though to satisfy himself that the fam
| lily slept, he disappeared under the
box. The otherr remained IN their
former position, motionless. A few
moments after the frog entered the
hive he was discovered by the inmates
and received with an uproar. Such a
| den bees certainly nevermade before.
They buzzed and hummed and, IN
fact, seemed fairly to hiss and boot
| the intruder. Numbers appeared on
the outside, in the greatest disorder
and apparent wrath. The writer had
| had hard work to restrain Father
| Wells from going to the aid of his
| bees. Presently the din and turmoil
increased and dark mass came from
under the hive. It was a frog, load
ed down with bees and with hundreds
of them buzzing around him and ever
and anon making a dart at him. Pain
| fully but resolutely the frog hoped
away, all the bees either clinging to
| him or hanging upon his sides. He
made straight for the water, moving
along with evident difficulty beneath
the heavy load. Father Wells fol-
lowed cautiously, to observe the re-
suit.
The attention of the writer was
now attracted to a noise as of NOV
ing host. Turning toward the hives
he saw the main body of the frogs en-
tering the hive. A minute sufficed to
enable them to take all the plumber
they desired, and then they moved off
at double quick into the shade and
went toward the stream. In the
meantime Father Wells had gone to
the rear to watch the career of the
leader. Making straight for the bank
he plunged into the stream where it