Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-04-18
STORIES ABOUT FROGS.
How the Bees were Robbed-A Self
sacrificing Leader.

How the Bees were Robbed-A 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 quaf6ng cool Scotch ale. We
We're on watch to determine what sort
of an animal had been robbing the
beehives. The full-orbed moon was
shining IN ths 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
dark object on the ground not far
FROM the bank of the stream. For
moment it seemed to rise and swell,
and then again it became 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 ana 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 retreated from the
rear, where for some time they had
been observing the advancing host,
and took up 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, HE BOLDLY
advanced. followed by the main body
Vi tItC +" ltI1lh tNo y vi
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 otaerr 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
den bees certainly never made 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. 1t was a frog. load
ed down with bees and with hundreds
of them buZzing around him and ever
and anon making 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 atty" "ted 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 sutficed 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
was deepest. Some of the bees quit
him as he left the bank, while others
were carried with him
INTO THE FLOOD
and doubtless drowned The writer
followed the other frogs and saw
them seek the moist margin of the
stream. where they were soon joined
by the leader.
Then singular scene was witness
ed. The heroes comrades appeared
to caress him and manifest every SEN
timent of gratitude and admiration
for his selfsacrifice and bravery. In
turn he fed sumptuously off the honey
with which the otker frogs were COW
cred. While the watchers leaned
over the bank and gazed upon this
strange scene, some gravel was loos
ened and fell into the water with a
splash. In an instant two score of
black bodies disappeared in the water
with splash. If the question arises
how the frogs escaped death from the
stings of the bees, all the writer can
say is that that has always puzzled
him. Father Wells said that no
sting could enter the hide of a full
gro wn frog, but whether he was an
to be relied on the writer
knoweth not.
While on the subject of frogs anoth-
er story may be told. For years a
community of frogs resided near a
brook which flowed net far from the
early home of the writer. They were
fed and would follow the
children along the walk and would |
suffer them to handle them, lying fiat
on their bellies when stroked and
their eyes in apparent enjoy
ment. On one occasion one CT these
pets was caught in rat-trap, set
trescherously near rabbit hutch to
receive any vermin that might come
there to modest the inmates The
writer was present when the frog was
with badly fractured leg,
which dropped off when the poor
creature was lifted from the ground.
He was laid on the grass, near his
dwellings by the brook Presently
the members of his tribe gathered
around him and seemed greatly dis
tressed at kis inability to hop. He
tried hard to get along, but could not
it. Two ho4rs later he was
gone and was discovered on the edge
Of the brook with his friends, not far
off OF course it is not known positive
Iy how he got there, but the belief
was that some member of tho frater
nifty carried him on his back. Stranger
things have happened.
POEAH0NTAS IN ENnI AND