Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-08-29


to bring the piece OF honey-comb
within it's circle.
So much done successfully, and
with very little trouble, Buzzing
Ben examined his captive for a
moment, to make sure that all
was right. Then he took off his
cap and placed it over tumbler,
platter honey-comb and bee. He
now waited half a minute, when
cautiously raising the cap again,
it was seen that the bee, the mo-
ment a darkness like that OF its
hive came over it, had lighted on
the comb, and commenced filling
itself with the honey. When Ben
took away the cap altogether, the
head and half OF the body OF the
bee was in one Of the cells, its
whole attention being bestowed on
this unlooked-for hoard OF treas
ure. AS this was just what
its captor wished, he considered
that part Of his work accomplish
ed. 1t now became apparent why
glass was used to take the bee,
instead Of vessel of wood or Of
bark. Transparency was necessary
in order to watch the movements
Of the captive, as darkness was
necessary in order to induce it to
csass Ito efforts to escape, and to
settle on the comb.
AS the bee was now intently oc-
cupied in filling itself, Buzzing
Ben, or lie Bourbon, did not hesitate
about removing the glass. He
even ventured to look around him,
and to make another captive, which
he placed over the comb, and
managed as he had done with the
first. In a minute, the second bee
was also buried in a cell, and the
glass was again removed. lie Bour-
don now signed for his compan-
ions to draw near.
"There they are, hard at work
with the honey" he said, speaking
in English, and pointing at the
bees. Little do they think, as they
undermine that comb, how near
they are to the undermining Of
their own hive!
"How hive in danger2" demanded
Elksfoot, who was very much of
a matter-of-fact person. "No see
him, no hear him-else get some
honey"
"Honey you can have for ask
ing, for Pve plenty Of it already
in my cabin, though it's somewhat
'arly in the season to begin to
break it upon the store. In gen
eral, the bee-hunters keep back till
August, for they think it better
to commence work when the crea-
tures"-this word Ben pro-
nounced as accurately as if
brought up at st. James's, maxi
ing it neither creatur nor crea-
toore-to commence work when
the creatures have had time to
fill up, after their winters feed.
But ! like the old stock, and, what
is more, / feel satisfied this is not
to be a common summer, and so
l thought ] would make an early
start"
As Ben said this, he glanced his
eyes at Pigeonswing, who returned
the look in a way to prove there
was already a secret intelligence
between them, though neither had
ever seen the other an hour be-
fore.
"Waalp exclaimed Gershom,
"this is curious, I'll allow that yes,
it's cur'ous-but we've got an art
icle at Whiskey Centre that'll put
the sweetest honey bee ever
suck'd, altogether out o. counte-
nancep
IAN article Of which you suck
your share, friend, I'll answer for
it, Judging by the sign you carry
between the windows of your face"
returned Ben, laughing; "but
hush, men, hush. That first bee
is filled, and begins to think Of
home. He'll soon be off for Honey
Centre, and / must keep my eye
on him. Now, stand a little aside,
friends, and give me room for my
craft"
The men complied, and lie Bour-
don was now all intense attention
to his business. The bee first taken
had, indeed, filled itself to safety,
and at first seemed to be too
heavy to rise on the wing. After
few moments Of preparation
however, up it went, circling
around the spot. as if uncertain
what course to take. The eye OF
Ben never left it, and when the
insect darted off, as it soon did,
in an air-line,he saw it for fifty
la he ~tL