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diff --git a/old/68284-0.txt b/old/68284-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 36a210d..0000000 --- a/old/68284-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3333 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Happy, by Walter Flavius McCaleb - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Happy - The life of a bee - -Author: Walter Flavius McCaleb - -Illustrator: Clement B. Davis - -Release Date: June 10, 2022 [eBook #68284] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading - Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from - images generously made available by The Internet - Archive/American Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HAPPY *** - - - - - - -[Illustration: AS IT LOOKED TO HAPPY FROM THE KNOLL] - - - - - HAPPY - The LIFE OF A BEE - - by - WALTER FLAVIUS MCCALEB - - Illustrations - and Decorations - by - CLEMENT B. DAVIS - - HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS - NEW YORK AND LONDON - - - - - HAPPY: THE LIFE OF A BEE - - Copyright, 1917, by Harper & Brothers - Printed in the United States of America - Published April, 1917 - - D-R - - - - -[Illustration: TO MY MOTHER] - - - - -[Illustration: Contents] - - - CHAP. PAGE - - FOREWORD 9 - - I. THE AWAKENING 15 - - II. THE CELL-HOUSE 20 - - III. MYSTERIES 24 - - IV. THE FIRST FLIGHT 28 - - V. ROBBERY 34 - - VI. CRIP 40 - - VII. CRIP, THE WISE 45 - - VIII. A GLEANER OF HONEY 50 - - IX. A STORM 56 - - X. THE AFTERMATH 60 - - XI. THE FIGHT WITH THE WEB-WORMS 65 - - XII. THE WOUNDING OF CRIP 72 - - XIII. THE SWARMING FEVER 77 - - XIV. PERILS 86 - - XV. A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE 95 - - XVI. TIDINGS OF WOE 101 - - XVII. THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN 106 - - XVIII. CRIP AND THE IMPOSTOR 112 - - XIX. FAREWELL 116 - - - - -[Illustration: FOREWORD] - - -Years ago, banished into the far Rio Grande region, I became a keeper of -bees. As a child I had loved them, even caressed them, and many a time -have I held them one and a hundred at once in my hands. I knew their -every mind and their wilful ways; I loved their sweet contrarieties, -their happy acceptation of the inevitable, and their joyous facing of -life. - -So it came about that, grown older, I returned to my old engagements, -and, far from human habitation, amid the wild, brush-set wilderness -enveloping Lake Espantoso, I built my house and brought my bees. And, -too, there came with me a little Shadow, and at his heels a shepherd-dog. -There, in that land of boundless spaces, we waited and watched and -dreamed. - -The years went by silently, uneventfully—day following day noiselessly, -as sounds die in the sea. Spring came with its bounty of flowers; and -fast on the trail of retreating winter they leaped forth in multitudes: -daisy and phlox and poppy and bluebonnet and Indian feather and anemone -all tossed their heads and flung their beautiful wings into the sunlight. -The earth was sweet with the wild, fresh sweetness of flowers. Even the -cacti and the brush blossomed like roses of Cashmere, hiding their thorns -amid a profusion of loveliness. - -Then the winter came, brief, primordial in its changes. The brown earth -and the brown-gray sweep of the horizon, stretching inimitably away, -wakened in rueful contrast to the riot of the vernal months. - -Season after season went by until, indeed, I seemed but a ghost -fluttering in and out among the whirling days. Overhead a sky of -perennial blue; in my face the winds from every zone, and in my ears -the somnolent sounds of the years gone to dust. I was overwhelmed by -the impalpable significance of the primeval world—and by the mysterious -unfoldings of life. - -Hours at a time I sat amid my little brothers, the bees, now and again -catching up the harmonies of their existence and marveling much at the -divine rhythm of their speech. The longer I sat and brooded the more I -grew into their lives, until I seemed to know their every mood and to -sound the mysteries of their being. - -They seemed to know me and to love me. Often in their flight, tired and -overladen, they would rest for a moment on my sleeve, and then away. Many -a one did I raise from the earth where he had fallen—all too like our -fellow-mortals—weighted down by burdens too heavy to bear. And how happy -I was to see them, with ever so little help, again take wing and fly -heartened to their homes. I have sometimes thought that, after all, men -are but bees in their ultimate essence. - -Thus, with the passing years, I, a keeper of bees, came to be one of -them; and even now, though far distant, I wander in dreams through the -open aisles about which their white houses cluster, and through that -sweet rose-garden. - -My cottage was framed in roses. Clambering Maréschal Neills, yellow as -the sun; and Augusta Victorias, white as the snows of dead winters, -leaned upon the walls; and all about varieties innumerable and known only -to my mother, lifted their heads and prayed for the fulfilment of the law. - -One rose there was of all roses the most beautiful. She called it the -Queen of the Prairie. Red it was as the blood of the martyrs; and, huge -as a lotus leaf, it blew the most wonderful of flowers. Here was my -special pride. I loved it because of her hands; I loved it because it -aspired toward perfection. - -Early in a morning now gone—a gorgeous spring dawning—I rose and went -into the garden, as was my wont. The sun had not yet risen, and there -was in the air a brooding, a sound of far-away symphonies. From rose -to rose I turned, until presently I came to the most marvelous of them -all. Wonderful beyond words, I drew it to me—a Queen of the Prairie. I -breathed its fragrance, thrilled at its beauty, when, with a start, I saw -deep within the folds of its heart a little bee, drowsing in sleep. I -could but gaze and wonder, and while I gazed one leg quivered a moment -and then was still. - -It is the story of his life that I would tell. - -I plucked the rose and bore it away with me; and even now, as I write, -its crumbled leaves lie over him in a memorial urn; and I shall be happy -if I have truly caught the meaning of his life, which carried with it so -much of the sweetness of endeavor, so much of the joy of living, and so -much of love for the Kingdom of Light. - - BEECHHURST, LONG ISLAND, - March, 1917. - - - - -HAPPY - -THE LIFE OF A BEE - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER ONE - -The Awakening] - - -My name is “Happy”—at least that is what the bees have always called me; -and well I remember the first time I heard the word. I suppose I was -joyfully flapping my wings at having emerged, white and feeble, but a -living being, from the darkness of my cell, when I heard a queer, thin -voice saying: “He[1] isn’t a minute old, and yet what a fuss he’s making -with his wings! Let’s call him ‘Happy’!” - -All around I could hear little noises of approval; any number of -strange faces came hurrying to look me over; two or three actually -jostled me, and one even drew his tongue across my face—and for the -first time I tasted honey. I found out afterward that this was the -customary salutation to all newly-born bees. Of course I was too young to -appreciate all they said and did, and I soon forgot the jubilation, for I -happened, in my wanderings, upon a cell brimming with honey, and, without -asking permission, I ate and ate until I could not hold another mouthful. - -Then a strange drowsiness seized me, and I scarcely knew which way to -turn. But I fell in with what I afterward learned were nurse bees, and -they took me in charge. Presently, hanging fast to the comb with my -half-a-dozen legs, I fell asleep. - -Wonderful things had happened in a very few minutes. It seemed to me, as -I began to drowse and the light to fade, that once more I was falling -asleep in my cell, whence I had so shortly emerged. The something that -had awakened within me, that had caused me to turn round and round in my -cell, and that had cried gently in my ear, “See the light—cut your way -through the door and live,” sang me to sleep. - -When I awoke, for a moment I imagined I was still in my cell. I thought -I could hear my neighbors, on all sides of me, biting at the wax doors -that closed them in, and that I could see the thin, transparent shutters -giving way before the eager heads which appeared in the doorways—tiny, -whitish-black heads, with huge eyes that slowly issued from the -dungeon-like cells. I, too, unconsciously trying my mandibles, must -have been biting on the combs about me, for presently I was stopped -by an important-looking bee that cried, sharply, “What are you about, -youngster?” - -He was rough to me, but I had learned that one must not bite the combs -just for the pleasure of biting; it began to dawn on me that it cost -infinite labor to build the thousands of little six-sided houses which, -laid side by side, made up the combs of our hive. And almost before I -knew it, I came to have vast respect for all the things I could see about -me, for the things I felt lay out there in the unexplored depths of our -home, and for the things which existed only in the consciousness of the -colony. - -I was still so young I walked but feebly; but everywhere I was greeted -as a brother. Some of the little fellows climbed over me in their hurry; -some of them, hustling about me, almost knocked me from the combs; and -one actually stopped me, mumbling something I could not understand; but -his meaning was soon made clear. I suppose he said: - -“I see you are a novice; you have on your swaddling-clothes. This will -never do. I must clean you up.” - -Whereat he proceeded, in spite of my protest, to lick me all over and to -rub my legs and body, saying, “This white powder must come off; you can’t -stand here looking like that; you must get busy and be a real bee!” - -When he had finished with me I found that I was no longer so wobbly, that -my wings moved more freely, and, to my astonishment, a smart little bee -came up to me and said: - -“I note that you are changed; you are no longer grayish-white, but look -like everybody else; your eyes are gray-black, a little delicate fuzz -is in the middle of your back, and beautiful alternating black and gold -bands make up the rest of your body. You look like a real somebody.” - -Then he hurried on, and I heard him make the same speech to another bee. - -Still heeding the small voice, I had gone but a little way on my round of -exploration when I plumped into the biggest bee! He was in such a hurry -he nearly ran me down. As he passed I saw on his two rearmost legs great -balls of yellow-looking stuff. - -“Out of the way!” he called. “The bread-man! The bread-man!” - -Every one seemed to have understood except me, and even I, a moment -later, heard the cry and gave way to a newly-arrived bread-man. Just what -character of bee he was I had yet to learn, and little did I then dream -that I, too, should one day be a bread-man, carrying great baskets of -bread on my legs. - -By this time I was again hungry, and presently, as I traversed a white -strip of comb, I came upon a great store—cell after cell, like a thousand -open pots, full to overflowing with honey. I was on the point of helping -myself when I was turned away. - -“This is not to be eaten,” a worker said. “We are ripening it and soon it -will be sealed for the winter. On over there you will find some.” - -He was busy and gave no further heed to me, but as I turned away I -noticed fully a hundred bees standing ever so still—fanning, fanning -with their wings the open cells to hasten the ripening processes. He -left unanswered my wish to know what the ripening of honey meant—and the -winter. - -As indicated by the worker, I soon found plenty of honey and quite gorged -myself. This time I took away with me a supply in my honey-sac. Again I -felt sleepy, and started back to my cell. Finally I reached it. I was -dumfounded to find that it had been over-hauled and that the bread-men -had filled it with shining yellow loaves. Wondering, I fell asleep -hanging between the combs. The last sound that I heard had been a long, -low murmur, which afterward I came to know to be the voice of my hive -singing an immemorial hymn, a hymn, I have been told, the bees have sung -for a hundred times a thousand years. - -[1] It is well known that all worker bees are females. But I have changed -Happy to the other sex. Here I have taken a liberty, warranted, I think, -under the circumstances.—THE AUTHOR. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER TWO - -The Cell House] - - -How long I slept I cannot say, but I was awakened by a sharp blow which -nearly knocked me from the combs. So nearly was I toppled over that I -seized the first thing my feet fell upon. I felt immediately, by the -way I was being dragged about, that I had grappled something dangerous; -and imagine my consternation when I succeeded in opening my eyes! I was -holding fast to the biggest bee that ever lived. Many of the same kind I -have seen since that awakening, but none ever looked so terrible. When -I had managed to loose my hold on this monster and stood fairly on the -combs, I asked the nearest bee: - -“Who is that?” - -“Nobody; he is just a drone.” - -“Please, then, what are drones?” for I had developed a wholesome respect -for one of them. - -“A drone is a great, worthless bee that won’t work. They stand around -the hive until the time comes for them to die. He is nearly the last. For -almost a month we have been driving them away, and when they won’t go -sometimes we sting them. You see, they never work and are useless. Of an -afternoon they fly up into the sky with a deal of buzzing. Sometimes they -follow the Queen into the deep of heaven. If they would stop there! But -worse than that, they bluster about over the hive and eat a lot of honey. -Besides, they get in the way and are just a nuisance.” - -I was listening very intently to this speech, when the very same drone -that had collided with me came tearing past me with two mad workers -clinging to his wings. - -“Poor fellow,” I cried, “are they driving you away?” - -He headed straight for me, as though a friend had come to his rescue, and -the next thing I knew I began to fall and fall, until I landed plump on -the bottom-board of the hive. - -In all my life I never fell quite so far again, although once I was high -in the air with a great load of honey when a whirlwind caught me and -hurled me to the earth. You see, I then knew nothing of distance. - -I got up on my legs as quickly as I could and staggered about a bit, -trying to get my bearings. Now, indeed, I had gone a long way from the -tiny cell-house where I was born; but strangely enough, I knew the way -back to it without even thinking. I had, up to that time, moved but a few -inches away from it, but suddenly the world seemed to have yawned and -swallowed me up. However, I quickly regained my composure, for around me -bees were running, humming strange words as they went; and over me I -could hear the croon of the nurse bees and other sounds which were still -foreign and mysterious. - -Without even thinking of the direction I took, I started on the way back -to my cell. Crawling along the bottom-board until I reached the side of -the hive, I climbed up it until I came to a bridge of comb stretching -to a frame, and a moment later I was crossing from comb to comb, and, -ere long, to my great joy, stood on the spot whence I had started. In -my passage I had met hundreds and hundreds of my brothers, none of whom -seemed glad to see me, although I thought a few stopped to watch me -stumbling along on my way. However, I now know that not one actually -paused from his work. The world they live in is too full of duties and -the dark days of winter are always too close at hand, while eternally is -sounding in their ears the refrain, “Work, work, for the frost is coming.” - -I went round and round the cell which had been my house. I couldn’t make -out why I did this, because I was absolutely sure of my location. Still, -to make doubly sure, I even thrust my head into the doorway and scented -the bread with which it had been filled. There still remained about it -a curious odor, which I never forgot, and at this late day, with my -eyes closed, I could find my cell—perhaps not by the smell, but through -the same divining sense that has led me across ten thousand fields and -streams and hills to my home again. I found, however, that I had been a -little bruised by my fall. The foremost leg on my right side was hurting -me. It had probably been sprained when I struck the bottom-board. I began -to claw at it, when a bee interrupted who seemed to understand what -troubled me. Forthwith he laid hold of the lame leg and pulled and pushed -it unceremoniously, and presently, without a word, went on his way. I -found immediately that it gave me no further pain, and I was engaged in -licking my other legs when I seemed suddenly to grow sleepy and in a -trice I planted myself on a comb and prepared to sleep. - -If I really slumbered, it could not have been long, for when I began to -drowse a bread-man was busy taking the yellow pollen from the baskets on -his hindmost legs, and when I wakened he was just drawing himself out of -the cell where he had stored it away. In fact, I saw him at the moment -packing it down. - -“What are you doing?” I asked, sleepily. - -“Can’t you see?” he answered. - -Then it all dawned on me. It was interesting to watch him draw himself -out and thrust himself in, head-on, battering down the loaves of bread. - -“Why does he do that?” I ventured, of a bee that seemed to be loitering. - -“In order that he may store a great deal in the cell, so that it will -keep through the cold, wet months when there are no flowers. Bread comes -from flowers, you know.” - -“Flowers! What are flowers?” I cried. “And bread?” - -“You shall learn for yourself,” he answered, patiently, turning away. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER THREE - -Mysteries] - - -I thought he might have answered my questions, but, without knowing why, -I started off on an excursion, and surprised myself at feeling so much -stronger. At least I could scamper along without swaying and staggering -and clutching at every bee and thing I met. I began to feel brave and big. - -As I went forward I encountered a stream of workers. They were humming -a home-coming song as they hurried up the combs to deposit their loads -of honey. I overheard some of them saying that the dark had dropped on -them suddenly out of a cloud and that rain had begun to fall. I could -not then understand what terrors were couched in these words—rain and -darkness—else I might better have appreciated the thanksgiving hymn -which these late-returning, rain-draggled workers were uttering. In days -to come I was to learn what danger meant, for more than once I, too, -was forced to flee before a storm in the growing blackness, bearing a -load almost too much for my wings; and to spend a night in the woods, -hiding as best I might under a leaf, and quaking at the nameless fears -that beat about me in the gloom. There was no comfort even in the tiny -lights that glowed over my head, nor in the small voices that called to -me in the night. It was not fear that I should be lost that oppressed -me, but that the load I had gathered with so much travail should never -reach the storehouse upon which the life of the colony depended, for -food was necessary to life. And life? I knew naught of it. But was it -consciousness of imperative duty that made me shake in every passing -wind? Even to this day my own life has given me no concern. I scarcely -know that I have any interest in living, apart from serving, apart from -the lives of these, my little brothers. - -I noticed as I moved onward that the workers brought home no pollen. -Their baskets were empty. I thought this strange and inquired about it, -learning that the flowers yield pollen more freely in the morning; that -the sun, wind, and insects tend to dissipate it, and that, therefore, -bread was largely gathered in the early hours. I also learned that as a -food it was far less important than honey; and that honey, too, was more -abundant when the day was young. I knew that the incoming hordes were -now laden with honey, and instinctively where it was carried, for my own -sac was still stuffed nearly to bursting. - -On I went without thinking, at each turn facing laden and singing -workers. It never occurred to me that my progress would eventually lead -me to the door of the hive, which was the boundary between my home and -the wide universe that spread away to the stars. Many things there were -that stopped me on the way. The last laden workers had passed, and I -found myself still wandering on. The night song of the hive was already -submerging the hymn of the late-arriving workers; but the two were -strangely commingling, the one flowing into the other, even as the shades -of twilight merge with the dark. - -A mysterious feeling was creeping over me. I felt as though something -imponderable was pressing upon me. Suddenly a whiff of air dashed in -my face and I stopped, stricken with an indefinable fear. Then, the -reassuring note of the guards at the door brought again my courage, and -boldly I walked out into the night. - -Several of the guards ran up to me, smelling me strangely, then let me -pass. I must have been wandering as in a trance; all around me the night -lay black and the soft wind shook my wings, and the little stars seemed -hanging just over my head. I was seized with a wild desire to try my -wings, to fly into the beckoning unknown. But my wings could not lift me, -and happily one of the guards, seeing me approach too near the edge of -the alighting-board, cautioned me and suggested my going back into the -hive. - -As I turned in I cast one long look back into the great black space that -lay outside, and wondered and wondered. Overhead the sprinkled lights, -like flowers in the gardens of heaven, leaned a little wistfully toward -the earth; and near, ever so near it seemed, a wonderfully bright light -shone, calling me to fly into its embrace. - -“What is that?” I asked of the gentle guard. - -“The Master’s lamp,” he said. - -The Master’s lamp! What might that be? But I asked no more questions. -There was too much of mystery around me. I clambered over the combs as -rapidly as I might, back to my cell; but even there it was a long time -before I slept, so spellbound was I, so stirred to the depths. Vast -harmonies seemed athrob in the outer world, and one dim undercurrent of -tone, the night song of my hive, ebbed and flowed ceaselessly around me. -Gradually I seemed to lose my identity and to merge with the spirit of -the things about me. - -In a flash I felt that I was no longer just a helpless little bee, -floating about in the maze of life, intent on my own purposes, bound no -whither, owning no duties and driven by no destinies. Up to the moment -I had given no concern to things beyond dipping into honey-cells for -food, to exploring the house in which I found myself, to groping about -with eyes wide and ears that missed no sound. But now I had been shaken -with new desires. I seemed to have climbed out of myself, even as I had -crawled out of my cell on that other day, now but a memory—so far away it -seemed. My thoughts, my activities, my soul were no longer my own—they -belonged to my little brothers buzzing in the alcoves or busy with -endless tasks which I seemed to know without knowing. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER FOUR - -The First Flight] - - -My sleep was interrupted by I know not what strange dreams or fantasies. -I suppose I was shaking my wings or my legs unduly, when a kindly nurse -laid her hands on me. - -“What troubles you?” she asked. - -I did not immediately answer, because I was at a loss for a reply and -seemed still to be clinging to the edge of things. Such wonderful vistas -had been opened to me, I suppose I acted like one entranced. - -“I don’t know,” I answered at last. - -“Wake up a bit, then.” - -Again I seemed quite alone, although all around me hundreds of my -brothers were sleeping, or working at their manifold tasks. - -It was still very dark, but I began to move about drowsily, giving no -heed to the way. From comb to comb I clambered, passing over unexplored -regions. Presently I came to what was clearly the outermost comb. I -saw a lot of workers tugging and pulling at the cells. I stopped and -watched them. Each cell had its bee or bees busily engaged upon it. -They would seize the sides of it with their sharp mandibles, and, by -dint of biting and drawing, extend it little by little. I could see -that it was a laborious process, this building of comb. I was standing -quite still, looking on and meditating, when, without ceremony, one of -the comb-builders rushed up to me and began to touch my body, then left -as suddenly as he had come. Instantly I was inclined to resent this -treatment, and called to him as he turned: - -“What is all this about?” - -He did not stop to answer, and I was left to discover that he had -mistaken me for a comb-grower. Just what that meant I was soon brought to -understand. - -Hours passed and still I hung around the comb-builders, until I felt that -I had mastered the secret of the art. Then slowly I turned and made my -way back to my home cell, tired, but greatly pleased with my experiences. - -I suppose I must have slept, for with startling suddenness it dawned on -me that the night had passed. The faintest light was coming into our -hive, and over the whole colony there was ringing the early summons to -the field. The cry caught me and unconsciously I moved forward with the -workers, a solid stream of them making way to the entrance. I, too, -passed out, and once more—now the full dawn upon me—stopped upon the -alighting-board and flapped my wings, essaying flight, only to find that -I could not lift myself. - -I was distressed and sick at heart. I wanted to go—I knew not where; -but instead, there I was, an obstruction; and I could not immediately -re-enter the hive on account of the outward press of workers. The growing -light, and then the sudden burst of the sun, quite fascinated me. Besides -this, the flight of a thousand of my brothers, each taking the note of -the field-worker when about to embark, filled me with longing to go into -the wide world that spread around and that called me with infinitely -tender phrases. - -I suppose I was acting strangely, as well as blockading the entrance, -when one of the guards mildly remonstrated with me and suggested -my re-entering the hive. By this time practically all the veteran -honey-gatherers had gone, and indeed those first out were beginning to -return, chanting the song that tells of a successful foray into the -fields. So, following the mandate of the guard, I seized the opportunity -of falling in the wake of a laden bee. Instinctively I followed him. - -He rushed along like mad, darting into the hive, and then over the -bottom-board to a point where a bridge of wax stretched downward within -his reach. Up it he scampered, with me at his heels, until he came to the -very spot where the workers had been building cells the night before. -Finding one to his liking, he buried himself in it, and in a moment had -emptied his sac, depositing the honey at the bottom of the cell. Before -I could turn around from inspecting what he had done he had gone. He -appeared delighted to think he had been one of the first to return with -a load, and as he went out I heard him calling aloud to his fellows to -follow him, for he had found a new rich harvest field. - -I hurried along and reached the alighting-board in time to see him fly, -closely pursued by half-a-dozen eager workers. I rambled about on the -alighting-board, constantly buzzing my wings for I knew not what reason, -when I overheard one say: - -“There’s that Happy again!” - -It made no difference to me, for I was determined to stay to watch the -incoming bees, and presently the worker I had followed inside returned -and, at the briefest intervals, those that had gone with him. And now a -real sensation was astir. These half-a-dozen all began to cry aloud: - -“Hurry—hurry—honey—honey.” - -In the briefest space a multitude was flying over the field to I knew not -what rich storehouse. Indeed, every worker, on returning, was told the -great news, and from one I gathered that a colony was being robbed, that -something tremendous had happened. _The Queen had died!_ - -I knew not what robbery meant, nor had I ever heard the word _queen_. - -“What is a queen?” I asked. - -One of the guards stared at me impatiently. “You had better go inside.” - -I refused to comply with the suggestion; on the contrary, I remained -where I was, ever and anon flapping my wings, and presently to my -overpowering joy I felt my body being lifted off my legs, and without -thinking I rose in the air! It was a wonderful sensation. I hardly knew -what I was doing, but back and forth I flew about our hive, looking and -looking to make sure I should know it when I returned; for now, indeed, I -felt my soul bounding within me and that the wide world, upon which I had -yearningly gazed, was about to swallow me up. Back and forth I flew, ever -widening the distance, taking into view other white-faced hives and trees -and houses, until presently, in a long spiral I rose into the heavens. -Up and up I went toward the sun, glorying in the power of wings and the -infinite grandeur of the world that spread out below me. How far away -it seemed and how cool and green and inviting! I could hear around me -strange noises, mingled with the whirring of wings. The note of my hive -now and again faintly broke on my ears, and I knew that my brothers were -traveling the airy spaces, working ever toward a goal far removed from -thinking. - -I did not feel lonely at all, but after a time I decided to return to -my house to make sure that I knew the way. You would be surprised to -know how straight I came back to it. Down and down I dropped into the -bee-yard, and, turning right and left, without further thought I landed -on the alighting-board. Immediately a guard fell upon me, but passed me -without question. Then, with glee bubbling in my soul, I fled into the -hive and set up such a buzzing for joy as I think none ever surpassed. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER FIVE - -Robbery] - - -Now that I had taken my first flight into the blue, I felt at last that -the world had truly opened for me, and that I was a real bee with duties -and responsibilities—and without hesitation I accepted them. Rushing -around in uncontrolled delight, I heard again the laden workers murmuring -about the great stores of honey they were taking. It seemed, from what I -could gather, that practically all the workers of the hive were directing -their course to this new, rich field. - -I was listening as hard as ever I might to all this converse, when an -important bee cried out: - -“Why don’t you get to work?” - -Up to that moment I had done nothing nor had I even then thought of it, -but at the suggestion I made off, following to the entrance and then -into the air a worker bound for the unknown treasure-field. I got off a -little more slowly than he, but to my surprise I found I could easily -outfly him. We had gone but a short distance when he began to descend, -and, with no ceremony, landed at the same instant on the alighting-board -of a strange hive where a thousand bees were struggling. I discovered -immediately that many of the bees around were strangers to me and that -all acted like mad—pushing, pulling, and fighting. Some were struggling -to get in and some to get out. I saw at once that those outward bound -were heavily laden with honey, and that they had to fight the hungry -bees scrambling for a taste of the nectar. I collided with an old fellow -heavily loaded and was about to attack him, when he hurled me aside. I -was now aflame with the passion of acquisition. Honey I must have, even -if it cost my life! - -I scrambled along with the rest to get in and finally succeeded. But -there the trouble began. Whether it was because I looked young or was -really ignorant of the procedure, the first thing I knew a bad-tempered, -elderly bee attacked me. I learned long afterward that he was one of the -last survivors of the colony, fighting to the end. First, he seized me by -the leg, but I kicked him off; then, undaunted, he got me by the wing in -such a way that I could not shake him, and the next thing I knew he was -about to sting me. Other bees were rushing pell-mell over us. I felt the -tiniest prick of his stinger, and then with a supreme effort I escaped -his clutches. I rushed away from the spot and soon came upon a batch -of honey over which it appeared ten thousand bees were quarreling and -fighting. Without thinking, I fell into the scrimmage and by some chance -finally landed on a half-filled cell, and into it I plunged. - -Here my troubles began afresh. Hundreds of bees piled on top of me and -all but drowned me in the honey I was intent on possessing. For a minute -my head was buried in it and I began to strangle. But by a mighty effort -I escaped. - -It was almost as difficult to get out of the hive as it was in; and on -my return journey a hungry, malevolent bee intercepted me and demanded -that I divide my load with him. On my refusing he seized me by a wing -and jerked me so violently that I thought he had all but torn it off. -I fought him from the start, but, he being a stalwart and I heavily -laden, he thrashed me almost into a lifeless state. To add to my terrible -mischance, another freebooter, more vicious than the first, joined -against me, and the two of them overcame me quickly and robbed me of my -load. They left me half senseless and I was only too glad to escape with -my life. - -I flew as straight as an arrow to my home, feeling outraged and -exhausted. After all, I was not powerful—not important. I was -crestfallen; but I did not even have to think of the direction or the -location of my house, and you may be assured I was glad to return to it, -if only to make sure that I was alive and knew the road. At the same time -I was still under the impression that I had some honey in my sac. Nobody -had taught me how to unload it, but I went forward to a cell. Imagine -how downcast I was to find that not an atom of honey had been left me! -I was infuriated; so resolved at once to try again. Hurriedly I went -to the place for another load, but found the bees had nearly all gone. -Once inside, I discovered that not a drop of honey remained, hence the -reason for their leaving. I was wandering about when a poor crippled bee -approached. Could this be one of the rascals that robbed me and who had -suffered a worse fate? - -“Won’t you have pity on me and let me go home with you?” he said, -sorrowfully. “I’m all alone in the world.” - -His tone and request cut me deeply; he was clearly no robber, for I saw -that he was broken-hearted and had but five legs—one of his basket-legs -was missing. And how wretched he looked! - -“Have you no home?” I asked, with compassion. - -“This was my home, but you and ten thousand like you have destroyed it. -There wasn’t much left of it, though, when our Queen-Mother died.” - -I felt guilty as a thief caught red-handed. Remorse was at my throat. - -“Yes,” I said, “you may go home with me. But tell me about your -Queen-Mother. What became of her?” - -Then he began a fascinating story which kept me rooted to the place, -desolate as it was. - -“Well, it was this way: One sunny afternoon, a long time ago, our -Queen-Mother went for a flight into the outer world, a thing she did but -rarely—and never returned. Have you ever lived in a house without a -Queen-Mother? You do not understand, then, what a terrible thing that is.” - -He stopped short and would say no more. - -“Please go on!” I urged. - -“Some day I’ll tell you all of it. It is a long story, but for us the -end was in sight. In the large economy of the universe our efforts were -futile. Better for us and for the great Life of the Bee that the honey -we had gathered should be conserved by strange colonies, and that our -short lives should be yielded up or dedicated to strengthening them, than -that it should be left rich booty to web-worms and mice. So it came to -pass, you and others found out our condition and sought our stores, as it -has been written you should. We fought at first, half-heartedly—as one -without friends or kinsmen or home will fight. You saw the end of the -battle. It is over. And now will you let me go home with you? You see -I have but five legs, but I can still work and help do the things that -remain to be done.” - -So absorbing had been his story, I quite forgot myself, and while I -answered, “I’m so sorry for you, and want you to come,” my thoughts were -far away. - -The things he had told me out of his life and out of the life of the -colony had gone deep in my breast. Turning from him, I looked around and, -lo! the hive was silent as death. Not a thing of life remained except -this poor, miserable, orphaned bee. Death had come, and now stood guard -over the portal of the little home where once a beautiful spirit had -brooded, and where some of the laws we may not understand had come to -fulfilment.... - -“Come with me,” I said, in a whisper. - -He followed, limping but uncomplaining. - -On the bottom-board we saw a number of dead bees which I had not noticed -on going in, I had been in such haste. - -“So many of my brothers are dead,” he murmured, “why should I want -to live? Because I am needed? You think I am needed? You think I am -commanded by the high powers to give my energies and my intelligence to -the problems that confront us? Perhaps that is true, and I shall bide by -the call and give my life to my new family.” - -We came at length to the entrance; I noticed that he turned and looked in -a dazed way at the things about him. It was a sad farewell. His little -brothers had gone. His tribe had perished. He should see his home never -again. - -Then I rose on my wings and he followed me ever so closely. A new chapter -in our lives had opened. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER SIX - -CRIP] - - -Scarcely were we risen in the air when I discovered the Master walking -near my home. I seemed to know instinctively that he was our Master. -Towering into the air and walking with such majestic tread, he filled me -with wonder and admiration. Nor was I less interested in the Little One -that ran at his heels. Stories there were of these two, eddying about -the hive—of their kindness and also their malevolence. How mighty they -appeared! I had seen them but once before. That picture was still vivid. - -We were not long in reaching home. Without ceremony I lit on the -board and instantly my friend was beside me. At the same moment a -guard accosted him and seized him, recognizing him as an intruder. I -interfered, but almost unavailingly, for the guard was about to sting -him. The two of us escaped this guard only to be attacked by another, -which we beat off, and hurriedly entered the hive. I was almost certain -that yet others would question the stranger, and sure enough, we had -barely got inside before another guard summarily attacked him. Poor -fellow, with only five legs and tired from the combats of the day, he -could make but a poor fight. Again I rescued him, and again we raced into -the interior. And now, happily, our troubles were over. Without thinking, -I made straight for my cell, with “Crip,” as I began to call him, at my -heels. - -He seemed to realize that he was a stranger and that he owed his life to -me, for he clung to me as closely as possible. He seemed to know, too, -that the ground whereon I stood was sacred to me. He did not speak for a -time, nor did I. We simply hung limp on the comb, and rested. He broke -the silence: - -“You have a wonderful colony, I can see. I hope I shall grow into it as -though it were my own. Indeed, in a sense it is my own, for all bees are -sprung from the same source, and the life of the bee is kept alive by us, -each in his own cell. I know now that I shall grow into it. Listen to -that voice! How long it is since I heard a Queen-Mother sing!” - -I roused myself, somewhat confused. “Queen-Mother!” I stammered. - -“Yes. Won’t you take me to her?” - -I hardly knew how to answer; I had never seen her myself, although I knew -from Crip’s story and from some unknown source that there was somewhere a -reigning spirit. But my life had been so brief and I had already learned -so many things, I said, as lightly as I might, “Let us go.” - -He seemed to know the way to her. He hobbled along as best he might on -his five legs. He was now no longer suspected as an intruder, and we -marched without interruption. Presently we climbed through a hole in a -comb and came face to face with our Queen-Mother. - -I stopped, dazed, overcome by her serenity. The grace and magnificent -proportions of her body and the fire of her eyes held me entranced. I -shall not live long enough fitly to describe my emotions. There she was, -queenly and wonderful, and yet simple as any one of us. She approached us -and appeared to nod, as if to say, “I salute you, my children.” Then she -went on with her labors. - -I turned to Crip. He was speechless. - -Immediately we started back to our cell, for it was henceforth to be his -also. - -“It is strange,” he said. “I do not understand it. Life and death are in -her keeping, and yet she knows it not. You and I don’t count for much. -We pass like the leaves, but life everlasting lingers in her body—the -very spirit of things ranges through her. But I am content with my -insignificant place, to live my life, doing my duty from day to day.” - -I did not answer him. We fell silent as we made our way across the combs. - -“Suppose we take a turn in the woods,” he suddenly suggested, wheeling -about and heading for the door. “I have new bearings to get and you have -new lands to explore.” - -“I supposed you knew this country,” I ventured. - -“I do, but the way to this new home of mine must be learned.” - -Out into the air we hurried, but he flew back and forth many times before -our door. He wanted to make sure that he knew it; then, flying round and -round in ever wider circles, we mounted with ecstasy into the higher -reaches. Lake Espantoso, with its border of great oaks, lay below us like -a bar of silver; and the Master’s house stood like a sentinel beside the -white hives which, row on row, spread beneath us in the sun. - -“That prominent knoll,” said Crip, “is a thing to remember, if you are -returning late and flying low. And remember, too, that in that window of -the Master’s house a lantern burns. This may sometimes be a guide. But, -mark you, never fly into it, though you may be tempted. Better still, -get in before it is too dark. Just there by that row of hives is a tree -to remember. It is a glory in the spring with its yellow flowers, until -the cutting ants get it. They clip off the leaves and blossoms. But it -is an excellent land-mark, nevertheless. And there’s the Master,” went -on Crip, “and the Little One, and that horrid dog. That little boy sits -by for hours while the great one labors with some of us. The horrid dog -sleeps—I’d like to sting him. Things will go wrong—the Master sets them -to rights. He seems to know everything; and yet, when he took away some -of our honey, in spite of our having vast stores of it, we fought him. -The little he took harmed us not at all, and I suppose we fight him -because our brothers have done so for centuries. But I talk too much.” - -After a rather long flight, and much interesting converse, we reached our -door again. Crip’s experience with the guard was still fresh in his mind, -for he clung closely to me for protection. But the guard this time passed -him without a word. He had acquired the scent and the note of the hive, -and henceforth his life and all the energies of his body would be merged -with that of the colony. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER SEVEN - -Crip, the Wise] - - -When we had returned to our cell we halted, and for a season remained -quiet. Indeed, we slept a tiny bit, as much as ever a bee can sleep at -a stretch, and then we fell into meditation. Among other things, I was -wondering what the Queen-Mother was doing when she popped her long, thin -body into each cell as she made her rounds. I could not understand and so -I called on Crip to explain. - -“Why, laying eggs!” he said, right sharply, as though annoyed at my -ignorance. - -“Well, what are eggs?” for I was still no wiser. - -“Come with me,” he said, and off we went across the combs. - -He did not stop until he reached the very spot where we had seen the -Queen. The odor of her was still strong thereabouts, but she had gone. - -“Now look, stupid!” Crip said. “At the bottom of each of the cells in -this section of comb is an egg.” - -I looked down into one and, sure enough, a small, thin, yellowish-white -egg was stuck squarely in the center of it. I looked into several other -cells, and each had its one egg. - -I shall never forget the story which he went on to unfold. The wonderful -cycle from egg to larva, from larva to bee, he explained in fascinating -detail. I saw at once that he was a real sage, that his knowledge was -boundless, and then to crown it he told me that even the Queen-Mother -herself had sprung from an ordinary egg, having been converted through -miracle into a queen ruling over this empire. Simply by feeding and -tending them differently—only the bees in their wisdom know how—the -egg which might develop into a worker or a drone, passing through a -metamorphosis, can be made to break from the dark cover of the cell the -personification of life eternal, as exemplified in the body and the life -of the Queen. - -I could not quite understand all these things, but I felt sure Crip was -telling the truth; and indeed I began to look up to him with increasing -admiration and wonder on account of the worlds of things he knew. - -We were silent awhile. There rose again for me the night hymn of the -hive. It penetrated me as not before; it had a new significance, a new -message—I had been visited with a revelation. The sight I had gained of -the Queen-Mother woke new and tremulous emotions within me—there was a -new meaning in life. - -Crip stirred rather sharply, breaking my train of thought. - -“What’s the matter?” I queried. - -“I’m tired holding on. We must get another place to rest. You see, with -only five legs the load of my body grows heavy.” - -With that we moved up the comb to the top of it, and there he spread -himself out with a little hum of content. And just then I developed a -curiosity to know how he had lost his leg. - -“You miss your leg, but do you suffer pain on account of it? And how did -it happen?” - -“That’s a short story. I was coming home late one day, well laden with -honey, when, without warning, one of those terrible black bee-hawks -darted for me and clutched me, sailing away to the nearest bush. He had -quickly rolled me up with his powerful legs and almost by the time he -lit he was ready to kill me with one thrust of his proboscis. Of course -I had struggled, but when one of those fellows gets his claws on you -it’s good-by. I had about ceased to struggle when suddenly there came a -tremendous shock, and the next moment I was rolling on the ground and -shaking myself free from the mutilated hawk. He had been torn to pieces -by some mysterious force, and my leg, my bread-basket leg, was gone. -At that moment the Master approached me; in his hands he held a long -black thing which I had seen emit fire on other occasions, and somehow -I suspected at once he had saved me. The little boy came hurriedly up, -stooped over me and helped release me, and in a moment I was circling -round to get my bearings. The little boy and the Master—and even the -dog—watched my movements with an expression of satisfaction on their -faces. I flew straightway home and was thankful still to be alive.” - -“Tell me more about this Master,” I begged, for I was now growing vastly -interested in his activities and in those of the Little One, and even the -dog which once I tried to sting, because he came so close to our hive. - -“Some say he is good—some say that he is bad. I only know him as the -chopper of weeds about our home and as my rescuer. Many times since the -day he saved me have I heard him shooting bee-hawks. Indeed, I had heard -the little thunder of his gun before that day, but I did not understand -its meaning. They say, too, that he takes away our honey—and he did take -some of ours once—and frightens us nearly to death with the prospect of -starvation. And they fall upon him and sting him, trying to drive him -away. But all this is useless, they report, since he comes armed with -fire and smoke. - -“Others tell of him that in the dark, cold days, if provisions run low, -he brings honey and closes the door against blizzards. But I know nothing -of this. I have not lived through a winter and I fear I shall never know -what it means.” - -Thus I became infinitely interested in the Master who passed from day -to day about the yard. But I was confused in mind about him. Somehow I -instinctively feared him and I always found myself ready to attack him, -as I explained to Crip. - -“There would be no use in that,” answered he. “Should you sting him, you -would achieve nothing. Instead, you would lose your life.” - -“How is that?” I cried, for I did not till then know I had a life—at -least I had never thought of it. - -“You can sting once, but unless you escape with your stinger, which is -rare, your life is sacrificed.” - -I seemed to know this and answered him nothing. - -“Is it not a strange fatality,” he continued, “that we should be given -stingers with which to defend ourselves and our homes, and yet, when -we make use of them, we lose our lives! Still, we are always ready to -strike, with no thought of death.” - -“What is death?” I asked of Crip. - -“I don’t know, except that once when the bee-hawk caught me I felt myself -going away. It grew dark and I heard the hum of wings that were strange -and wonderful. Somehow you go to sleep and forget.” - -“I have thought of death,” he went on. “I am old and battered, my days -are as the falling flowers when the frost is upon them, and the frost -soon will fall.” - -I waited awhile in silence, but he spoke no more. Soon he lay in that -buzzing hive, asleep, and I was not long in following him to where the -golden honey dripped in the garden of dreams. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER EIGHT - -A Gleaner of Honey] - - -We awakened about the same time and began to stir about. The first thing -that happened was a new experience—the wax-pickers fell upon me and raked -and scraped me for the tiny bits of wax which now, on account of my -voracious appetite, had begun to grow in each of the rings marking the -under sections of my body. They were so rude that at first I was inclined -to resent their interference, which seemed to be mere meddling. But when -I looked at Crip and saw two busy wax-pickers fumbling over him, I began -to understand that this was part of a routine, and so I stood still until -they had finished. - -“They won’t bother with me much longer,” said Crip, sadly. “You see, when -one becomes old the wax grows thinly—so the pickers give over. But you! -They’ll get you. I have noticed that you are rather greedy about eating -honey. This means you’ll get fat and produce lots of wax.” - -“Tell me about wax and comb,” I begged of him. - -“Comb, my child, is made of wax; this is comb on which you are standing. -It is everywhere about you. The cups that hold our honey and our bread -are made of it. The cell in which you were born is of wax; and, besides, -it is used to stop the holes in our house. Of course there are different -kinds of comb, depending on the use to which it is put. Why, these sheets -of comb with their six-sided cells are wonderful in their economy, in -their plan and symmetry. The cell we build is perfect. No other structure -would serve our purposes, combining such strength and capacity. The cell -is indispensable to the life of the bee!—otherwise he could not exist. So -don’t let me see you make ready to fight the next time the wax-pickers -approach, and they’ll soon be after you again.” - -I answered nothing. I was wondering in what far age we had learned to -build the six-sided cell, and in what tiny brain it had been conceived. -They fit so perfectly, I stood quite still marveling at the harmony of -it all and wondering how many things there remained for me to learn. At -every turn I had been confronted with something new. And was it to be so -to the end? What could the end be, of which Crip frequently spoke? - -“How old are you?” I asked. - -“Two months—glorious with flowers, but ending in disaster.” - -“What disaster?” - -“Well, you saw the close of it—the death of our colony.” - -“Yes, I remember,” I said. But he was so wise I could scarcely believe -that he was but two months old, for he seemed so tattered of wing and -battered of body! - -Without thinking what we were about, we drew near the door. Groups of -workers were banked about the entrance, waiting impatiently to be away at -the first streaks of dawn. Presently a note like a bugle-call sounded, -and immediately the face of things was changed. By twos and threes and -fours the workers took wing and scurried into the fields. - -A dull gray light lay on the world; the air was damp and moved lazily -out of the east; the dew had fallen thick on the flowers and now began -to twinkle from myriad angles. Crip and I had left the hive at the same -instant, but once on the wing I forgot all about him and flew like mad -this way and that until I caught a whiff of fragrance from an unexplored -meadow, and thither I hastened. Strange and thrilling sensation! I had -not until now felt the joy of dipping into the flowers and searching out -their honey-pots. It was a field of late sunflowers, and all of them -had their faces toward the east, eager to look upon the sun. Joyfully -they waved in the breeze and beckoned to one another as if to say: “Good -morning. How glorious is the sun, our king!” In spite of the dew on their -faces, some of them already were wearing the brand of the hot summer, -which had all but gone and left them beseeching of autumn her tender -graces. - -“I am old and frayed,” I heard one say, “and these mornings chill me, but -my work is done. The heart and soul of me are here; I shall not pass; I -shall endure; my seed shall spring up to brighten the world.” - -“But I am young,” a tender blossom said, “and I shall be cut off. The -frost will slay me and I shall have rattled down to dust ere my soul has -developed its immortal parts.” - -At the moment I was taking honey from its lips, and I felt a quivering as -if its heart fluttered. - -“Dear little flower,” I said, “you are living your life; you cannot die; -you will be swallowed up in the universal spirit of things. Your face -has spread a glamour of gold in the world; your honey has nourished a -thousand winged things; your scented breath has floated far and has -carried blessings into silent places. Memory of you will linger; it -will be preserved by the things you have fed, by the things you have -gladdened. And, too, I promise that I shall remember you!” - -“How can you remember me,” the flower asked, “when you, too, are doomed?” - -“What!” I cried. “Doomed! Why, I am young, I am swift, I am beautiful, I -am glorious!” - -“Yes, and so am I. But we pass.” - -“You are wise for so young a flower,” spoke up the elder blossom. “Both -of you are of the heavens; both have your lives before you in this tiny -garden, ere you return to the golden fields that spread out toward the -sun. You are immortal.” - -Just then I saw one of the petals blow away from the face of the elder -flower. It fluttered and fluttered and finally fell to the earth. -Scarcely had it struck the ground when something with a long, thin body -and active legs seized it and began struggling to draw it through the -grass, intent on some mysterious purpose. I was quite absorbed, and from -my post of vantage on the breast of the floweret I followed the movements -of the thing that tugged at the petal. I had never seen this thing before -and I was wishing for Crip, when, behold! he appeared. - -“What are you doing?” he cried at me. “How many loads have you gathered? -What are you staring at?” - -He had submerged me with questions. I answered none of them. I had, -indeed, forgotten my work momentarily, so absorbed had I been in the talk -of the flowers. - -“Have you a load? Let’s go,” cried he. - -I was ready, truly, but I could not refrain from asking him about this -strange animal that pulled the leaf so sedulously through the grass. - -“An ant!” Crip answered, rather glumly. - -“Do you see what he is about?” - -“Yes he is gathering his winter stores. A time comes when he must go -indoors and he must have food even as you and I. Come now, let’s be off.” - -I looked down at the ant struggling with his burden and then at the -disheveled flower, casting a last glance at the tender face which had -yielded up honey to me, wondering at the strangeness of it all. - -“Come on,” cried Crip, rising on wing. - -I did not speak, but followed him. I flew at his heels until he began -to fag a bit and then I came up alongside, careful, however, not to -outdistance him. I soon saw that he had a heavier load than I, and I -felt ashamed, but I knew this had come through my having wasted a few -minutes, and I resolved then and there that the next time I should be -first. - -Another thing I noticed, we were flying very low, so near the earth we -almost brushed the tops of the bushes. I asked Crip the reason. - -“The wind,” he answered, in better humor than could have been expected. -“Don’t you feel that heavy head current? If you should go up it would -be a hard fight home with these loads. You see, there are currents and -currents,” he went on, “and you must use your wits. Take the current that -blows your way. Profit by whatever nature bestows.” - -Almost at once I saw the yard with its white hives, like dots, and -the Master with the Little One and the dog that seemed always with -them. The next moment Crip and I were dropping down to our hive. I was -overjoyed when I fell upon the alighting-board, and could not restrain my -exuberance of feeling. So I bowed my head humbly as best I might with the -load I carried, uttering a hymn of thanksgiving—the very hymn, Crip told -me, that every worker for a million years had uttered on returning to his -hive with his first load of honey. I cannot explain, but some mysterious -force seized me, compelling me to bow my head and to sing. I should -have done it had it cost my life. Such is the law of the hive, just as -there is the law of the jungle. I did not know why I was so happy, but -something bubbled over in me, and the very intoxication of it finally -sent me running madly to deposit my load in a waiting cell, and once more -to take wing for the field of the flowers of the sun. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER NINE - -A STORM] - - -On my way back the first rays of light caught the topmost branches of the -trees and gilded the flying clouds in the east. Far in the west, black -and forbidding masses of cloud were gathering, and the wind, I observed, -had shifted its course. Again I had lost Crip, and I was regretful, -for there were questions which only he could answer. But I flew all -the faster for being alone, and soon found the very place and the very -flowers I had visited before. Speedily I took my load, but I could not -fail to return to the flowers I had come to love. Other petals from the -elder had fluttered away, due either to the eager foraging of bees or to -the gusty impatience of the wind. The younger had opened wider her heart -to the sun. - -“I’ve been waiting for you,” she said, sweetly. “All that I have I yield -up to you gladly. This is my end. Oh, how glorious is life! How splendid -to be able to give of one’s store so that life shall go on eternally!” - -“Yes, eternally,” echoed the elder blossom. “Even I, in dying, leave my -seed behind to follow the summer suns through numberless ages; and I -breathe into the world an imperishable fragrance. It shall be wafted to -the utmost bounds; it shall gladden the hearts of the lowliest. Though it -be scattered by the winds, it shall not cease to exist.” - -By this time I had filled my honey-sac, and, after flying three times -around these two well-beloved blossoms, I made for home. I was depressed -by the talk which I had heard. I could not wholly comprehend it, and I -wanted to consult Crip. - -I was not long reaching our hive, for the wind seemed to get under me -and literally to blow me on. I deposited my treasure, hurried out again, -and once more headed for the sunflower-field, where I quickly gathered a -load. Then straight for home. It was difficult flying now, because the -wind was in my face. I rose higher, following Crip’s advice, but still it -blew and almost beat me back. The black clouds which I remembered having -seen in the west seemed almost over me, and suddenly terrific noises -crashed around. It grew dark and great flashes of fire tore the heavens -apart and blinded me. - -This terrified me. I knew not its meaning, but instinctively I fled -homeward. But my progress was slow, and I had not gone far when again the -whole world seemed to tremble, shaken through and through by the most -violent rumblings conceivable. It grew so dark I almost stopped in my -flight, not sure of my way. At this moment of hesitation something struck -me squarely in the back, almost knocking me down. It had been a great -drop of water, and almost immediately others began to pelt me. Soaking -wet and tossed by the gale, I was forced to alight. As I dropped downward -I saw nothing but black shadows, and presently I was dashed into a great -tree. I seized a branch that offered shelter, which proved to be none too -well protected against the blast that now drove the rain in solid sheets. -I was cold, and clambered around to the under side of the limb, and -there, feeling none too secure, I grudgingly deposited some of my honey -in a crevice. By lightening my load I was better able to keep my balance; -but so gusty was the blast that it whipped the rain all over me, and I -was unable to find a spot that was dry. I began to climb from one branch -to another in the hope of reaching a safer haven, but, alas! none was to -be found. - -Worse things, too, were awaiting me. I was crying for Crip when the -branch to which I clung suddenly snapped. Down and down it fell while I -clung to it. I was too cold and wet to try to take wing, and presently -the branch crashed into a swirling stream of water. At first I was -entirely submerged. It seemed an interminable time that I stayed under -the water; but presently I came to the surface and caught my breath. Cold -as I was, I still clung with all the tenacity of my being to the floating -branch that was hurried onward by the raging torrent. I was beginning to -feel a little more comfortable when over went the branch again in the -seething water, and again I seemed to go down to immeasurable depths. -This time I felt my legs giving way in the rush of the waters. My head -swam and I strangled, but just as it seemed all over with me the branch -again came to the surface. I caught my breath, shifted slightly my -footing, and hurriedly emptied my honey-sac. This gave me more confidence -in spite of the numbness that had nearly overcome me from the cold and -water. There I sat shaking, awaiting the next turn of the branch, which -now seemed merely to be bobbing up and down in the waters. The wind was -still whistling through the trees, the rain was falling in torrents, and -the thunder rumbled in unabated violence. - -How long I clung to the branch in desperation I do not know. But after a -time the rain ceased, the wind fell to a whimper among the bushes, and -the darkness broke along the horizon. It began to grow a little brighter. -Imagine my joy, therefore, to find that my perch was now quite clear of -the flood waters, the branch safely nestling in the top of a bush. In a -short space it grew warmer, and I took courage; I began to dry myself and -to preen my wings. The light gained, and before long, after trying out -my strength, I found that I could again mount into the air, and with one -wide sweep I made for home. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER TEN - -The Aftermath] - - -I flew with all my speed, and I was almost overcome with joy when I saw -my house. I noticed, too, as I approached, the Master bending over a -neighboring hive, and I wondered what was the matter. But on alighting I -was too happy to inquire about anything. I rushed inside and sang a song -of thanksgiving at my deliverance. - -Then I bolted straight for my cell to find my beloved Crip. He welcomed -me with joy. - -“Well,” said he, “I feared you were lost. You ought to have come home -before the storm broke. But I’m happy you escaped. The next time you see -great piles of cloud, make haste homeward. Your life is too precious to -lose through stupidity.” - -He came close and gave me a kiss, drawing his tongue across my mouth. -The taste of honey excited me, and immediately I dropped into a cell -and helped myself. I still felt stiff and cold from my experiences, and -complained to Crip. - -“It might have been worse,” he said, when I had told him all that -had befallen me. “If you live long enough you will have some real -adventures,” he concluded. - -I was inclined to resent his comment, for I felt that I should never -again pass through such a storm and survive. - -“Do you know what a real storm is, Crip?” I asked, with offended pride. -But he ignored my query. - -“Listen,” he said, suddenly. “Do you hear that alarm?” - -A note I had heard before suddenly ran through the hive. I could not at -first remember the occasion, but instantly both Crip and I were off. -By the time we were out I remembered what the sound meant. It was the -robber-call. There was honey at hand—pure honey for the taking, and off -we went. - -It was just where the Master stood. He had righted a hive which had -blown down in the storm, and was endeavoring to place a net over it, but -already thousands of bees were swarming about. - -“It is too late,” Crip said to me, as we lit on the bottom-board and -hurried into the hive. “They are dead. I see it all. The rains undermined -the foundations and the hive toppled over into the ditch. The storm -waters crept up and up, submerging it.” - -A little honey remained in the old combs, and we were soon busy with its -salvage. We helped ourselves to one load only, for when we returned the -Master had covered over the hive with his net. We flew about the place -for a while, hoping to find some tiny hole through which we might creep; -but none could be found. The net was covered with scrambling bees. - -“Did all the bees drown?” I asked. - -“Probably,” he answered. - -“Here’s one on the ground that seems to be alive.” - -We both lit beside the little fellow struggling to dry himself. We -approached and licked him all over, and when he could fly Crip begged him -to come home with us, since his own colony had ceased to exist. - -Right gladly he followed us; but when we had reached the entrance he -seemed to realize the seriousness of daring to enter a strange hive. -He drew back, but we urged him, standing one on either side. Almost -immediately, however, a guard scented him and flew at him. Crip headed -him off, but another quickly attacked from the same quarter. He caught -the stranger, and it was all I could do to save him. When we finally -freed him of the advance guards, we said to the stranger, “Run for your -life!” - -We three rushed like mad into the hive and escaped further interference, -and never again was he questioned as to his identity. - -He marched with us straight up to our cell, and thenceforward he claimed -it for his own. - -“What shall we call him?” I asked of Crip, when we had left him to -recover and were once more on our way to the fields. - -“Let’s see. Suppose we call him Buzz-Buzz.” - -“Excellent!” I cried. - -So, Buzz-Buzz it was, then and ever after. - -Crip and I reached the entrance and looked about us. Mountainous black -clouds still frowned, and in the distance thunder rumbled. It was much -brighter, but still the sun was hid and a haze of mist hung about the -world as far as eye could see. - -“We cannot safely go yet,” cried Crip. “The storm might break again. -Besides, there is no honey in the fields; it has been washed away by -the rains. It will be several hours before a trace can be found; even a -day or two will pass ere some of the flowers fill their cups. The rain -destroys the flow of honey for a time, and too much rain will cut off the -crop entirely.” - -While we were talking Buzz-Buzz approached. “Well,” he said, “you ran -away and left me, but I warn you that when there are things to do you -will find me close to you.” - -Presently we all rose on our wings, for the rain seemed to have spent -itself and the wind in the catclaw tree had fallen to a whisper. The -three of us flew, for a while keeping closely in touch, but I was -determined to guide, and had set my mind on seeing my sunflower-field. -I feared, and, as it proved, rightly, that the floods had swept them -away. On reaching the spot where the beautiful flowers had grown, we -found it a quagmire full of broken stalks. Nothing was there to remind of -the fragrant and glorious garden which only this day had displayed its -choicest blossoms to gladden the earth. And now all had vanished. - -I said not a word, but Crip seemed to divine the reason which inspired -my flying round and round about the spot where I had gathered my first -load of honey and where I had heard the fascinating speech of the flowers -of the sun. He circled about with me, while Buzz-Buzz, puzzled at our -actions, sailed in wider curves. He did not lose sight of us, however, -and presently joined us again. - -“What’s all this about?” he queried. - -“Why, only to-day this spot was wonderful with flowers. Look at it now!” -I had spoken. - -“That is nothing extraordinary,” observed Crip. “It is only a chapter out -of any life you choose. They had achieved all the things for which they -were sent into the world. They were ready to go.” - -It was hard for me to think that the tender little blossom which had -given me honey had filled its full scope of existence. It seemed fit for -days of service. What a pity that it was not permitted to radiate its -beauty in a world all too barren! - -We said very little more, but made for home. This must have been -instinctive, for suddenly we found the darkness descending upon us like a -flood. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER ELEVEN - -The Fight with the Web Worms] - - -We reached home quickly and were making our way along the combs, when I -was accosted by a pretentious bee. - -“It’s your turn to nurse. Come with me. This shall be your section. These -little ones are to be fed to-night.” - -“Well, with what shall I feed them?” I asked, impulsively, somewhat -irritated to think that I, a honey-gatherer, should be set at such a task. - -In answer to my question I got only a look; but I shall not forget it—it -was withering. I felt ashamed of myself; and I resolved never again to -question an assignment of duty. - -Immediately I set about my task. Without thinking, I peeped into two or -three cells and found that the bees allotted to me were but four days -old. Miraculous as it may seem, while I knew nothing about preparing food -for the young, I fell to it with zest. Taking a supply of honey from one -cell, I sought one stored with pollen; and there, without ceremony, I -began to mix honey and bread, making a thin paste to which I had to add -ever so little water. Then I placed the least bit of it in each of the -cells of my section. The tiny worm-like bees began to wriggle, so I knew -at once that I had succeeded in my task. - -Several days now rolled away in comparative idleness. The great storm -had completely washed out the supplies of honey, leaving the flowers -draggled and broken. We busied ourselves with chores about the hive and -with flights into the fields, ever on the scout for sweets. For my part, -I was set to filling up a hole in the uppermost corner of the hive. At -the moment it was serving as a ventilator. A little stream of air was -constantly flowing out of it; but the cold weather was on its way and the -time had come to stop the hole. With winter once fallen, it would be too -late. - -“The mesquite-trees are full of gum,” said the dear old fellow who set me -to my task. “Hurry and bring home a good supply. I hear you are a capital -hand at this sort of thing.” - -So I went swiftly forth, and soon I found a crystal drop of gum on a -mesquite-tree. I bit off scraps of it quite easily, and soon had my -basket-legs filled with the gum; and it required only a moment to return -and pack it in the hole in the hive. - -“You’re a clever fellow,” said the old director. “But I see bits of gum -have fallen on the bottom-board and already there are accumulations which -afford excellent hiding-places for web-worms. Go and clean them out, if -you please.” - -I went promptly, and sure enough, chips from my patching and from many -others and scraps of comb had gathered in the corner, and I found myself -facing a considerable undertaking. Time after time I seized scraps in my -mandibles and flew away with them, dropping them outside. - -I was far from the end of my labors when suddenly the ugliest thing I had -ever seen burst out on me. It was a long, white-brown worm, which I had -uncovered in the débris. It wriggled away as though aware of danger. - -I was standing by, irresolute, when I heard a call, from I knew not what -source. - -“Why don’t you seize him, coward!” - -I was not a coward, but I could not make up my mind what to do. But -the little rascal that had scolded me knew, and fell upon the monster -manfully. - -Over and over the worm turned, writhing like a beast in torment, and -suddenly it twisted itself quite out of the clutches of its enemy and -made for a cell in the nearest comb. - -Up to this point I had taken no hand in the fight, but now I joined in -the pursuit. In the mean time the worm had escaped and was trying to hide -in a cell. - -We stopped for a moment, the two of us, peering at him, wondering what -next to do. At least I was wondering, when my mentor spoke out sharply. - -“You’re a poor excuse for a bee! If you had helped we should have done -for him by this time. We have still a chance to save ourselves. Now, -when I dive in upon him, he will probably rush out, throwing me from the -combs. Then you must do your work. Hold him until I come, and between us -we can manage him.” - -“Shall I sting him?” I asked. - -“No, you idiot! It’s not so desperate as that. You ought to know that -only in a great emergency should a bee sacrifice his life. Now mind you; -here I go!” - -With that he lurched forward, and instantly back he came, the worm -plunging along with him. I also seized the intruder, and the three of -us dropped to the floor. Round and round we were thrown until I thought -I was about to be beaten to death, but I had made up my mind to die -rather than have fresh slurs cast upon my courage. I am doubtful whether -we could have won the battle if two other active bees had not come to -our assistance. The four of us soon had the breath out of the worm’s -wriggling body, and then we dragged him to the front of the hive. After -vain efforts to fly away with him in the burial fashion of our people, we -found the best we could do was to drop him to the ground from the edge of -our board. - -I was quite out of breath, and stood panting on the spot, when, lo! from -the clouds dropped Crip. - -“What’s the matter?” he inquired. - -“Nothing much. We’ve just captured a great worm—one of our enemies. There -he lies on the ground.” - -Crip walked to the edge of the board and looked down. “Why, he isn’t -dead.” - -I looked, and, sure enough, he seemed to be alive. But on closer -inspection I saw that a multitude of small black creatures had taken -possession of the body. - -“He is dead for certain,” I said. “Some bugs have seized him for prey.” - -Crip looked again. “Why, those are black army ants,” he exclaimed; “one -of the worst enemies a bee can meet. Sometimes, when they are hungry, -they rush into the hive and help themselves. It is most difficult to deal -with them. They nab you by the leg, when they do not sting you, and you -cannot free yourself from their deadly grip.” - -I looked at Crip in silence. Was there no end to perils? - -“Let us hope they’ll travel on,” he added. “There’s plenty of food abroad -for them. But tell me, where did you find that worm?” - -“Back in the far corner. Come with me. I was cleaning out the débris when -I came upon him.” - -“Well, did you finish your task?” - -I had quite forgotten it. I had been so absorbed in the fight that the -original undertaking had gone out of mind. - -“Then come on. I’ll help you.” - -With that Crip led off, limpingly. I followed by his side, amazed at his -speed. - -Soon we came to the place. Each of us seized a bit of the débris, and -away we went to deposit it far from the entrance to our home. - -“I see where your worm came from,” Crip observed. “There’s a hole in -the board, and he found it, then crept in stealthily and hid in this -little heap of rubbish. I’m a bad guesser, or we’ll find another here any -minute.” - -And sure enough. Crip seized a piece of comb, and, upon dragging it away, -out sprang another worm, even more forbidding than the other. - -Crip was the first to spy him, and, valiant warrior that he was, seized -him instantly. I attacked him, also, with all my might. But the worm, a -full-grown one, and twice as big as both of us, simply flung us about -and thrashed us unmercifully. He quite knocked me to bits; but I never -relaxed my hold, nor did Crip. It was a poor showing that we were making, -when several guards rushed to our assistance. The fight was soon over and -the monster lay still. - -“He’s dead,” said one of the new-comers. “Out with him.” - -We all fell to, dragging him along. It took the combined energies of four -of us to move his huge form. - -At last we arrived at the edge of our alighting-board, and down we -dropped him to the tender mercies of the black ants, who immediately -swarmed over him. One could almost imagine that they thanked us for the -delicacy we had tossed them. I wondered what the ants thought of us, if -they thought at all. I had become particularly interested in those big -red ones that ran along the tiny trail skirting our home. - -I was looking down at the worm, covered with the little black ants, when, -in a final paroxysm, he flounced violently, scattering the little army -that beset him. But once again they fell upon him, and presently they -had cut him entirely to pieces, carrying away every scrap for a feast. - -In the economy of things, these worms had grown and fattened on the -refuse of our hive, and now they had become food in their turn for a host -of tiny creatures which roamed the earth below, all this seemingly in -accordance with some unknown law. - -I stood there watching them for some time, until the last ant made off, -following with unerring aim the trail of his fellows. Soon they were -lost to sight. It seemed to me that this last one disappeared under a -log where the Master often sat. I wondered what relation there might -be between them, if in some mysterious way they worked together, for I -remembered that Crip had told me that not only the Master, but even the -ants, sometimes raided our hives, taking our honey. I turned to ask him -to explain, but he was not to be seen among the bees swarming upon the -board. I must find him. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER TWELVE - -The Wounding of Crip] - - -Back to the field of battle I hastened. - -“Tell me,” I cried in distress, for Crip was lying quite still on the -floor, “what is the matter?” - -“Ah, I fear I am done for at last.” - -Grieved by his words, I rushed up to him, saluting him, pressing my -tongue to his lips, praying for his life. I felt him all over, and at -last came to a little moist spot on his body, and realized that he had -lost his last basket-leg. I wiped his eyes, and came close to him to warm -him a bit, for he seemed cold and almost lifeless. - -“Go your way,” he murmured, dejectedly. “Leave me quite alone. My work -is done; I shall pass. Remember me sometimes when you cleave the air and -salute the sun and our mysterious Master.” - -By this time I was overcome with sorrow. My poor dear friend, the very -personification of wisdom, seemed passing out of my life. - -“No—don’t—please—don’t talk so mournfully!” I cried. “You will get well. -Do! I so want you to stay with me.” - -At this he seemed to stir a little and, with an effort, raised himself on -his remaining legs. - -“I cannot walk, you see. I cannot be sure of holding my weight on the -combs, even if I am not bleeding to death.” - -I was so shocked that it had not occurred to me to stanch his wound; but -instantly I fell to it most vigorously. - -“That will help,” he said. “Do you think I have done well with my life?” -Crip asked. “Do you think I have helped our people?” - -I answered that he had been wonderful—that he had worked faithfully for -two houses, and all for the betterment of our race—the Bee. - -“You really think me deserving? Then I am happy.” - -He seemed suddenly to take on new life, and began to flap his wings for -joy. - -After a little pause he again flapped his wings violently. I did not -understand. - -“I still can fly!” he exclaimed. “I can fly! Go now, finish your work,” -he commanded. “Perhaps I shall yet be able to labor for a little; but I -want to be as much as possible with you. Go now.” - -I went at his word, but when I came to the place of the débris, no scrap -remained. My fellow-workers, alarmed at the news of the worms, had -fallen upon it and borne it all away. - -Almost without thinking, I moved slowly toward the door of the hive, for -the afternoon was sultry and there now seemed nothing to do. Indeed, when -I reached the outside the bees were heaped on the board, and they clung -in great masses to the front of the hive. - -“What idlers!” thought I. But I quickly realized that there was nothing -in the fields to gather, and further, I knew that our hive was well -stored with bread and honey against any possible contingency. - -I made my way through the crowd, and presently I, too, was seized with -the fever of sleep, and, taking my place among a group that clung to the -uppermost front of the hive, I soon fell asleep. - -How long I slept I know not, but when again I roused myself a summer moon -was streaming above us, big and gloriously bright. The little dots of -stars that glinted through were almost lost in the sea of light. I could -hear the night hymn of the hive clearly, just as long ago I heard it for -the first time. It was the low, murmured music of a thousand voices. -This hymn of the night was like the throbbing of a muffled Æolian harp. -Mingling with its harmonies rose the dull whirring of many wings set to -the task of driving the sweet night air into the heart of the hive, to -render it tolerable for the little ones dreaming in their cells against a -day of awakening, and for our precious Queen-Mother, brooding through her -watches without end. - -Late in the night the air grew chilly, and one by one we drifted inside. -I had been one of the first, for I bethought me of Crip, whom I had left -disconsolate and battered from his fight with the worm. Returning to our -old haunt, he was nowhere to be found. Then I went to the spot of the -combat and there he was, more or less chilled and still sore from the -loss of his leg. - -“I thought you had forgotten me,” was his greeting. - -“I forget you? Not while I live. I was outside in the night.” - -“And the south wind blew? And there were stars?” he asked. “I want to -look upon them once more. Help me, for I can only crawl now. My body can -scarcely be carried by those four little legs, all that I have left. I -don’t know how soon I shall be done for, and then—and then—” - -He struggled pitifully in order to reach the front. Try as I might, I -could be of no assistance to him. But by dint of perseverance he finally -gained the threshold and gazed into the night. The moon had drifted far -toward the west, and already the morning star shone with transcendent -brilliancy. The south wind breathed ever so softly through the chaparral, -as it made its way to some hidden goal; and near the borders of the lake -a coyote, in staccato treble, gave warning that the dawn was near. - -Crip said nothing, nor did I. How useless are words when there is perfect -understanding. He came close to me, however, and put his face as near -mine as he might, as though he wished to look into the very depths of my -eyes. - -“It is well,” he said. “I know.” - -Then he turned and dragged himself into the hive. I followed closely. How -sad it was to see so great a soul chained in so broken a body. I stayed -by him, cheering him and encouraging him, until the bugle of the morning -sounded. - -“Now you must go,” he commanded. “You have your work to do. Mine is -nearly finished.” - -I took a turn in the fields, but there was nothing to report, save -the discovery that the white brush was ready to bloom, and that the -sage-brush and the broomweed promised honey. - -Again, for a number of days there was little to do. Toward the noon hour -the September sun blazed with midsummer intensity and the winds were -stifling. This meant that a deal of water was consumed. I was assigned -to help. So, back and forth to the lake I went, ever returning with my -sac filled to bursting. The young bees clamored for water, and it was a -delight to see them scramble for a drink. Again, the front of the hive -was packed with bees idling their day away, if, indeed, it can be said -that they were idle when there was nothing to be done. - -Another night passed as before and still another day. Then the news -resounded over the hive that the white brush was opening and that honey -was in the field! There was only the meagerest supply the first day, -but hungry tongues searched out the white tiny bell-shaped flowers. The -next day the flow was heavier, and the third day we began to carry such -quantities that the colony began “to develop a sort of delirium. Every -nook and cranny was being filled, when a strange sound echoed over the -hive. - -“What does this mean?” I queried of Buzz-Buzz. - -“I don’t know. Let’s find Crip. He can tell us.” - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER THIRTEEN - -The Swarming Fever] - - -We found him at once. “What does this mean?” I cried. - -“It means,” said he, “that, late as the season is, the swarming fever has -seized the colony.” - -“Why?” we cried. - -“Well, we have so much honey and there is so much in the field and the -colony so strong, it can easily spare a force of pioneers to begin a new -colony. Here is the working out of destiny controlling the very life of -the bee.” - -Crip spoke enthusiastically, and both Buzz-Buzz and I were fascinated by -his story. - -The first thing I knew I, also, was seized with the enthusiasm. -Queen-cells had been started—half a dozen at least. I laid hold and -helped draw out the comb to build up a huge cell, where, in the -mysterious processes of time, a Queen would appear! - -Almost against her wishes, the Queen-Mother deposited eggs in the various -cells and began, under mild protest, to expand her brood-chamber in -anticipation of the promised exodus of her children. While she did not -fear that enough would go to imperil the existence of her own colony, -she doubted the wisdom of the enterprise. She discouraged in every way -possible the ardor of the workers who continued to bring in honey until -there was no longer space to store it. Indeed, they crowded the Queen so -that she was driven to despair. The very space she had set aside for her -brood-chamber for the winter was encroached upon and heaped with bread -and honey, but for the nonce there was no stopping them. - -Crip said: “You are crazy; it is too late in the season to swarm; it -means extinction.” - -But one replied: “It is the law! There is a chance for the swarm to -survive, and the chance must be taken; particularly when the parent -colony shows its ability to survive.” - -“Truly said,” added Crip. “I merely wanted to find whether you knew what -the higher law compels.” - -But where would the swarm begin a home? This question now began to be -asked. It seemed that nobody thought of the great Master who sat for -hours under the mesquite-tree. Would he not provide a house? - -The next day Buzz-Buzz came to me, greatly excited. “You and I and -others are to go into the woods and search for a home for the swarm!” - -That was the order. It was enough—we went. - -We seemed to know that the only place to look for a home was among the -great oaks that bordered the lake, and thither we betook ourselves. We -flew from tree to tree, exploring every hole we could find in the hope of -discovering a hollow big enough to house a swarm. Three days we spent in -vain. On the fourth we found one, and with great joy we returned home and -reported. Immediately a hundred bees or more were assigned to prepare the -hollow tree for a habitation. Buzz-Buzz and I led the way back, and all -hands fell to cleaning out the cobwebs and the débris of decayed wood. -Several days were spent in this undertaking, and finally the word was -passed that the new home was ready. - -But things were not ready with the parent colony. No Queen had emerged -from her cell. From hour to hour the bees marched by impatiently, waiting -for the “click-click” of her mandibles and for sight of them piercing the -wax door to the cell. And there was much speculation as to which of the -half-dozen possible Queens would first emerge. Finally, one day, at high -noon, the rumor ran over the hive that a Queen had been born, and the -excitement became intense. “A Queen! A Queen!” - -Crip and I forced our way through the crush to the spot where the Queen -was surrounded by a joyous multitude. He, finally, on account of his -lameness, was compelled to abandon his efforts to pay his homage to the -new-born mother. But I, nothing daunted, persisted, and presently came -near enough to feel her presence. I, too, sang fervently, for a new hope -had risen. Soon in the vast forest of the world a new colony would be -planted to aid in carrying on the eternal work of the bee. - -At another corner of the hive I heard a different sound. It was the wail -of a Queen that was being destroyed. I hurried toward her, but somehow -felt no pity for her. A great cluster of bees completely enveloped her; -this was the mode of taking the royal life. All the remaining cells with -their occupants had been cut down, and soon there remained in all the -hive but the one mother and the one daughter. I came upon the destroyed -cells, torn and empty, and could not help mourning the death of the royal -creatures they had housed. Perhaps there had been but minutes between the -births of the Queens, but those minutes had been fatal to the last. - -Preparations went steadily on for the day of the exodus. The new Queen -took her first flight successfully; and then came the mating! Only -a few drones had been permitted to escape the massacre of a month -earlier—tolerated on the chance of a lost or a dead Queen—borne with -against a belated mating. - -“How wonderful,” Crip observed, “that these things should be provided -for—and how close are life and death!” - -It was a hot afternoon when the time came for the nuptial flight, and it -lacked the wild glamour of an earlier one that I had witnessed. On the -first occasion there were literally thousands of drones that went up -toward the heavens in search of the one radiant thing in the world. And -they had all returned save one immortal, who had found and won the Queen, -only to lose his life! Compared with the first flight, this last seemed -commonplace. I should have foregone the opportunity of witnessing the -thin procession, bound on the momentous journey of uniting two lives, so -that the thread of existence might not be cut short for the bee. - -I groped about impatiently, awaiting news of the bridal party. It was -not long delayed, for soon there were sounds of rejoicing throughout the -hive; and now the last preparations had been ended and the day was at -hand for the great adventure. - -Round and round the hive went the signal that on the morrow the swarm -should go forth to its home in the woods. Quietly and with no bickerings, -the tallies were laid—this one should go, this one should stay—there was -in no case dispute or contest. Each bee accepted the issue with all the -grace of a fatalist. I was one of them. - -Really, I was greatly disappointed not to have been chosen to go, for -I had been one of the pioneers and had helped find and prepare the new -home in the live-oak by the clear waters of the beautiful lake. It was a -bitter disappointment, but I uttered no word of complaint. When I came up -with Crip I found he, too, had been left behind. - -“Why shouldn’t we have been chosen to go?” I asked, somewhat downcast. - -“I am too old—too useless,” Crip answered. “You are young and brave -enough, but battles are to be fought here as well as yonder. And some of -the strong and gallant had need to remain.” - -Something in Crip’s look and tone struck me. Was I too old to go? Had -that been the reason? I had heard a cry over the hive that only young -bees should go, for there would be small hope of raising much of a brood -in the new colony through the winter. If it could build comb enough and -gather sufficient honey to feed itself, it would be fortunate. - -So, I was not young enough. Until then I had not thought of my age; it -seemed to me that I was still as active as on the day I flew into the sky. - -As for Crip, “too useless” seemed a cruel phrase. For who could say what -was the worth of his stores of knowledge? But I could see that he moved -more feebly from day to day. - -“Only the strong are to be chosen—the fit? Crip, that bears hard on us.” - -“Not a bit of it,” he replied, cheerily. “Take courage; that is the way -of things in the world of the bee.” - -Then he added that it would be a hard battle to build a home in the short -space of time allotted and to store food enough to last through the -winter. It meant a fight, for already the glimmerings of the fall were -upon us! Pale shadows of color began to stain the leaves, and the flowers -turned their faces more wistfully each day to the sun. Still, the bees -would go. There was no denying the operation of the law, which commanded -that the chance be taken. The whole law of survival was involved—and -there was none to deny it. - -So, all night long murmurings and vague discontents and forebodings and -anticipations ran through the hive. Those marked so mysteriously to go -realized that their lives were at stake and likely to be lost. Yet each -one in the hive would have gone. It was not until late that I learned -that our own mother, my mother, the mother of the hive, was to go away, -leaving her daughter to preside over the destinies of the old. Here, too, -Crip was wont to philosophize. - -“You see, our mother is not young,” he began. “If she should perish in -the stress of the winter and the new colony be lost, it would be less -grievous than the loss of this new, vigorous Queen. Besides, our mother -has had experience. She has lived over one winter. She knows how much of -a brood to rear to maintain the strength of the colony—or whether she -dare rear any at all—bearing in mind the while that there must be a fine -adjustment between the mouths to be fed and the total of supplies. She -knows well how to keep this account. Last winter, I am told, our stores -ran low, so low, in fact, that many of our brothers sacrificed their -lives in order to conserve the supplies so as to bring the Queen-Mother -with a few attendants through the long, bitter winter. Not a young bee -was reared until the first flowers had come riotously trampling on the -skirts of the frost. So, you see, _they_ know best. _She_ will lead the -swarm, and perhaps, if the season is late, and the frost slow to come, -they can build their combs and store sufficient honey to bring them -through. Perhaps even spring may come to their rescue, blossoming early. -A late, backward spring, however, might end them, even if they had -escaped the fury of the winter.” - -There seemed no end to Crip’s knowledge. Lying there on the comb, he -looked pathetically helpless, and there was a quaver in his voice. I -could see that he was reflecting—that age had dropped upon him heavily on -account of his wounds. Then, stoic that he was, I knew that some morning -I should search in vain for trace of him. Once a bee becomes useless, he -said, there is but one thing for him to do. I knew that Crip was already -contemplating the end. Bitterness for a moment welled up in me at the -thought that so much wisdom should be lost—and so soon. That was the -edict. But, after all, was the wisdom really lost? - -Our talk was broken at length by the call of the morning. The first pale -gleams of light filtered through the entrance of the hive. Already there -were murmurings and presently the faint note of the swarm. - -Two hours passed—three hours—and now the trumpet sounded for the flight. -Each of the chosen rushed to the nearest cell and filled his sac to -its utmost capacity. Some early-returning foragers, laden with pollen, -heard the signal and made ready to go, carrying with them their loads. -Stores must be taken along to last until comb was built and new supplies -gathered from the fields. Rations for three or four days were thus -provided. When all was ready the trumpet sounded again and the march -began. In the fore went the scouts who were to lead the way to the new -home. Then, following after, came the chosen ones in a mighty multitude, -and lastly the Queen. - -Out into the air they flew, then round and round, each one singing the -Song of the Swarm, which could be heard afar off. Round and round in a -dizzy circle they flew, but in an ever-widening whirl. The scouts, I -could hear from my point of vantage at the door, were becoming impatient. -The Queen had been delayed, and until word of her presence among them was -spoken, they could only circle about. Or else, failing that word, they -could and would return to the hive. But at the height of their impatience -the glad word came, “The Queen is here!” - -Then they delayed no longer, but started in a whirlwind flight toward the -lake and to their new home, uttering, as they drew away, that marvelously -wild and moving song which pulsed with the tremors of life and death. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER FOURTEEN - -Perils] - - -Crip and I were sober and silent. - -From the alighting-board we watched them draw away and disappear, and -were on the eve of turning into the hive, when up came the Master -breathlessly. He stopped and gazed at the retreating cloud, knowing too -well what had happened. He knew, too, by their actions, that a home had -been prepared for their reception. He seemed surprised to think that the -bees should swarm so late in the season, and not a little chagrined to -think they could have done it under his eyes. His curiosity at once led -him to find whence the swarm had come, and he walked straight to our -hive. A few excited bees were still flying back and forth, but Crip and -I, like the condemned, stood stolidly and wondered. - -His lips moved, but he said no word; he turned on his heels and went away. - -Shortly, however, he returned, the little Shadow with him. They were -talking of the swarming, for he pointed the way the bees had gone. In his -hand he held that horrid smoking thing, and Crip and I both knew what -that meant. He would open our house. I resented this, for I remembered -the smoke in my eyes when he took the top off our hive and lifted out -frame after frame, taking away from us part of our honey. I remembered, -too, how I longed to sting him, but how all my efforts were unavailing, -for he had hidden himself under a screen. And yet I really did not want -to sting him. Just why I flew at him I could not understand. - -“He is angry with us now,” said Crip. “He knows we are insane. He -probably will take away our honey and leave us to starve, as we merit. We -have proven our short-sightedness and have lost our right to survive.” - -“No, he will not do that,” I replied. - -On the instant I seemed no longer to distrust him; I remembered his -kindness to me on a day when, overladen, a gust of wind had felled me to -the earth. He had placed me on a twig, where, after disgorging part of my -load, and washing my body and my wings, I again made way to my home. - -But it was certain that we should know his intentions shortly, for, on -coming close, he sent a puff of smoke into the entrance that choked and -blinded both Crip and me and the guards, and sent us scurrying into the -hive. Then, passing the smoker to the Little Master, he carefully lifted -off the top and the upper section of our hive, and began an inspection -of the brood-chamber. He seemed to be right happy at discovering that -the queen-cells had been destroyed, which carried the assurance to his -mind that no further swarming was in contemplation; but when his eyes -fell upon the new Queen-Mother, they widely distended and a smile of joy -lighted his face. - -“Wonderful creature,” he murmured. - -The little Shadow cried: “Let me see. Isn’t she a beauty!” - -By this time the smoke had cleared away and my disposition had changed. I -said to Crip that we ought to attack them. But he answered that it would -be folly now—that only evil would result. Further parleying was cut short -by a blast of smoke shot at us by the Little Master, who apparently had -discerned outward signs of the rebellion, for my body was poised and I -suppose I must have been emitting the note of anger. The smoke sent us -all flying into a remote corner of the hive. - -Then the Master replaced the section of hive he had removed, and began -to lift frame after frame, uttering little exclamations, as though he -had not suspected that we had gathered such quantities of honey in so -short and late a season. It was easy for him now to understand why we had -developed the swarming fever, although it evidently appeared to him a -foolish adventure. - -“He has been dreaming in his rose-garden,” commented Crip, when the -Master had nearly finished his examination. “That is the reason he has -neglected us of late. He did not know there had been a great flow of -honey.” - -We were talking among ourselves, when up came Buzz-Buzz, angry from the -smoke in his eyes. - -“A fine lot this fellow,” he growled. - -“You don’t like him?” I asked. - -He just looked at us. He was too irritated to speak. - -“He’ll get over it,” mused Crip. - -We were still holding converse when again the top came off and one by -one the Master lifted out our combs and robbed them of their honey. They -were battered and broken and empty when he restored them to us. We were -all infuriated, and for a while flew madly about him and about the Little -Master—the dog kept at a respectful distance—straining every effort to -drive them away. But the Little One only smoked us the more, while the -Master went on with his work. He was careful to kill no bee, brushing -off every one of them before taking away the combs of honey, and while -returning them. - -Quickly it was all over. When he had gone we at once took stock and found -that he had left us quite enough to carry us through the winter, barring -accident. But almost before the appraisal had been made a catastrophe -was upon us. The honey from a broken comb had flooded the bottom-board, -and began to pour out through the entrance onto the ground, and robber -bees were shortly upon it. We summoned all our guards for our protection, -but the robbers in thousands came, and in spite of our resistance they -forced their way into the hive and began to plunder at random. Poor old -Crip even mixed in the mêlée, fighting like a veteran, while I, beaten -and trampled, finally lay senseless on the floor. - -We should have been lost but for the thoughtfulness of the Master, who, -returning to see that all was well, found us besieged and overrun. He -quietly closed the entrance to our hive, and thus left us to clear it -of the marauders within doors, which we did promptly, although at heavy -cost in the lives of our brothers. An hour later he returned and opened -ever so slightly our door. Although a few robbers still lingered and -endeavored to force an entrance, they were easily beaten off. In the mean -time we carefully cleaned up the spilled honey which had nearly been our -undoing—and the battle was over. - -The night came and we cleared our house of the dead. Scattered -indiscriminately they lay—friend and foe—many score of them. Among them -I found the veteran who had been kind to me, with the mark of a lance in -his breast. Certain it was that he had died fighting bravely. I had found -his body, and I determined to keep it by me through the night, and on -the morrow I meant to give a fitting burial. I remembered a high knoll -overlooking the lake and the country round about, and there I said he -should be laid to rest. I told Crip of my purpose, and he applauded me, -and together we watched over him. More than once we almost had to fight -to prevent the cleaners from taking his body away. - -On the morrow, in the early dawn, I dragged him forth and, taking him in -my mandibles, flew away with him, dropping him on the knoll. The poor old -veteran! Somehow I had gained the notion that one day he would awake, and -from that vantage-point find himself nearer the stars. - -We now began another chapter in the life of our colony. We were left with -none too much honey, and, besides, our numbers had been greatly depleted -by the exodus and by the assault of the robbers. Our Queen-Mother -immediately organized her followers and sent us all scouring the fields -for additional foods. Thanks to the late season, there still remained an -abundant harvest. Soon we had replenished our supplies to a point where -we could rest comfortably, and our good mother set about rearing just -enough brood to have us weather the winter safely. But we never stopped -work. Day after day we gathered bread and honey. - -“We cannot have too much,” said Crip. “You see, since you have not gone -through a winter you have much to learn. It is no simple business. -Frightful northers sweep down upon us and chill us and kill us. Sometimes -it grows so cold the young bees are frozen in their cells. They must then -be removed, or else sickness and disease will follow. Sometimes, too, if -stores run low and our numbers fall below a certain point, we ourselves -can no longer keep warm. That means death for us all.” - -“But we have plenty of stores,” I replied. “We have nothing to fear.” - -“There are always fears. An animal running wild may topple over your -house; a bad man may slip in and steal your supplies; a moth may enter -and lay eggs producing destructive worms; a bear may chance to find you -and with his great paws rend the hive asunder!” - -“Stop!” I cried. “If there are yet other dangers, I do not wish to know -them.” - -“But it is well to know. There are diseases to combat, such as dysentery, -paralysis, and foul brood—” - -“Oh, stop!” I begged him. - -Was life really such a hazard? so perilous a journey? And all for what? -Toward what misty goal? - -It was a glorious day in October. The Indian summer had come, flooding -all the hills and vales with its magical sheets of amethyst, while a -drowsy wind from the south bore on its breath the odor of autumn. Now -and then that indefinable note, presaging the advent of winter—a note -which is neither a requiem nor a dirge—could be heard like a faint flute -in the branches of the trees. The sun shone big and round and still -with a suggestion of summer. Scattered clouds went drifting lazily by, -wonderfully emphasizing the turquoise blue of the sky. - -“Is it going to rain?” I asked of Crip, who was dragging himself along on -the alighting-board, ready for a new excursion into the woods. - -“No,” he mumbled. - -It had been weeks since my experience in the flood, but ever after that -when a cloud was in the sky I bethought me of rain. But I had now come to -know that rains were something more than clouds. - -Crip and I had been laboring to fill adjoining cells. We had already -gathered many loads of honey that day. “I’m tired,” he said, right -plaintively. “I can’t do as much as I could once.” - -“Why don’t you rest?” I begged of him. - -“Rest! What word is that? Did ever a bee rest when there was work to do?” - -With that he hobbled a little farther on his four legs, his poor old body -half carried and half dragged. But his wings were still powerful and -lifted him instantly into the all-absorbing space. - -This time I took an entirely different direction from any I had thus far -traveled. On and on I flew, mile after mile, until presently I scented -something and went for it. It proved to be a field of June corn, in silk -and tassel—and, oh, what quantities of pollen! I gathered a little and -hastened back to report. Almost at once a string of my brothers were -flying to and fro, laden with bread. - -We had now stored up a great surplus of food, and the Queen-Mother -broadened her brood areas. She deemed it wise to enlarge her family; -first, because she had a premonition that a wild winter would soon break -upon us, and, for the further reason, that half the battle was to be -strong in numbers in the spring, when the honey-fountains opened. - -When I returned with my last load, well toward sunset, I found Crip -waiting at our rendezvous, my ancient cell. - -“You have done well to-day,” he said, “and I wanted to tell you so. Five -miles is a long journey to go for a load, but it was worth it. I, too, -made one trip—but have pity on me—only when I got there did I remember -that I had no basket-legs; hence I was forced to return empty-handed. It -is too much for me to bear. I am old and useless.” - -I could not stand to hear him depreciate himself in such fashion, and -remonstrated with him. - -“Well, it’s too true,” he persisted. “Some day you will understand.” - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER FIFTEEN - -A Midnight Adventure] - - -I did not answer Crip, for at the moment I was notified that I should -take my turn at guard duty, and I went at once to report. - -It was now fast growing dark, and the last workers were dropping on the -alighting-board and groping their way into the hive. It was the duty of -guards to inspect all who entered, and to keep out bugs and ants and -intruders. More than a score of guards, I among them, kept a continuous -patrol before the entrance; and all went well until far into the night. - -The Master with his little Shadow had passed among us as if to bid us -good night, and had gone. The moon was now rising, and a mocking-bird in -a neighboring tree had been rendering melodies without number. There was -no sound in all the world save the mocking-bird’s song that ebbed and -flowed in ever wilder cadence. High above his perch he would soar into -the moonlight, and as he dropped again—his little gray body looking like -a bit of mist—he would almost burst his throat with rapturous song. Often -had I heard him sing, but never had he so completely abandoned himself to -the sheer frenzy of it—and at such an hour! - -“He’s making the best of it, for soon the winter will come and his songs -will cease,” observed a guard. - -“But what glorious singing!” added another. - -While we were talking a guard suddenly gave an alarm. He had either -scented or seen an enemy; but doubt was immediately removed, for the raw -smell of an animal was borne in to us. We paused and prepared for an -attack. Our wings were buzzing at intervals and our stings were ready to -strike. And none too soon, for in a moment more a monstrous animal stuck -his nose into the entrance of our hive. Instantly we all flew at him, -some landing in his face and some on his body. But only those that struck -his face succeeded in stinging him, for the hair was too long on his body. - -I was unfortunate enough to have been one of those landing on his back, -and immediately found myself so entangled in his hair that I could -neither sting him nor free myself. I struggled in vain, and my efforts -were rendered more difficult on account of the mad capers he cut in -escaping from the spot. The moment we flew at him and stung him about -the head, he turned somersaults and cried like a cat in torment, while -he fled madly. So wildly did he fly that he banged squarely into a -neighboring hive and nearly upset it. Then he collided with weeds and -brush and cacti—in fact, I now suspect he could see nothing. Certainly he -cared not what lay in his road. - -I can think of it calmly, now that I am safely back, but while I rode -unwillingly upon his back I thought each instant would be my last. After -vainly trying to reach his body in order to sting him, I gave over -and endeavored to free myself. What with the buzzing of many pairs of -wings in his ears, and the pain from the stings, he fled like the wind. -Presently, however, he stopped suddenly and tried to reach me with his -claws. Then he did his best to crush me with his teeth, snarling and -whining betimes. He did crush some of my brother guards; but I was just -back of his ears, and he could not reach me. However, I may add I almost -wished he had, for his breath was horrible. I never could abide the -breath of any living thing. - -Soon he gave over and set out running again at top speed. I had abandoned -myself for lost, when a bush scraped me out of my entanglement and I fell -half dead to the ground. But the would-be robber never stopped, for I -could hear the brush rattling in his wake. He still fled incontinently, -as though he feared another attack, as though his very life depended on -his rate of speed. - -I lay there for a moment, scarcely able to move. But what could I do? The -moon was still bright, but bright as it was, the way back home was dark. -Instinctively, I turned to a friendly bush and made my way to the topmost -branch, and there I planted myself for the rest of the night. - -The wind was blowing lustily. I did not like the threshing back and forth -of the branches in the gloom, with the chance of being knocked off at -any moment. I could not think calmly of crawling on the ground, for Crip -had told me this was a thing to be avoided at all hazards. Scorpions and -beetles and toads and snakes made the night perilous. So I clung to the -branch with all my might. Now and again a pause in the wind would allow -me to look up at the stars through the screen of leaves—and how dear -and wonderful they were! Long ago I had thought how beautiful it must -be up there in the blue space, fretted with tiny lights no bigger than -the candle burning in the window of the Master’s house. And even then, -as I turned, I could see his lamp, and I almost started to fly toward -it. There was a fascination in its beams which I could scarcely resist. -Always, when on guard duty, at any hour of the night, I had been able -to see his light and to hear the bark of his dog. He seemed never to -sleep—or if he slept the lamp and the dog kept watch over him. - -The blustering wind finally had compassion on me and ceased altogether. -There came a silence that was more than silence. I felt it oppressive. -Then, as if a pause had been made for them, the crickets and katydids -began a frightful chattering, which was punctuated betimes by the far -hooting of an owl. The air grew chilly, and I began to feel cold and -stiff, and held none too securely to my bush. It was a fortunate thing, I -thought, that the wind had died away. - -How tired I was! This had been one of the hardest days of my life. As I -reflected on it, it seemed very long ago that it began; and I heartily -wished for the dawn. I must have drowsed awhile, for when again I looked -about me a mellow light brooded on the horizon and a great star beamed -above it. Soon wide streams of gold flowed across the pale-blue sky, -quenching the fires of the stars. Then, as if in compensation for their -loss, fleecy Gulf clouds caught the early rays of the sun and filled the -world with showers of rainbow lights. - -Presently I could see well enough to rise on my wings, and in spite of -the chill in the air, up I went until I got my bearings. A strange fit -seized me. “Fly to the sun!” I heard in my ears; and off I went. Up and -up I flew—higher and higher—until below me I could scarcely see the white -houses of the apiary where I lived and the white house of the Master. But -under me the waters of Lake Espantoso glimmered like a mirror, and in the -dark fringe of trees that bordered it I remembered a swarm of my little -brothers had taken refuge, and I wondered how they fared. Far as I could -see stretched the undulating hills over which I had flown in search of -treasure—hills now clad in their robes of autumn. A fragrance reached me -at this great height, which came from I knew not where. - -I had wheeled about and started home, when I caught sight of the Master -wandering dreamily in his garden. Then immediately I knew that the -fragrance came from his beautiful roses. Many a time had I flown over -the place, marveling at the flowers. Indeed, I had gathered honey from -the honeysuckle that climbed on the walls of his house and from the -crêpe-myrtle hard by. But the roses—ah, the roses! I loved to drop into -their hearts and to breathe the sweet breath of their lives. So again, -without thinking, I flew down and down until I reached the garden and -sank into a rose to rest. I felt tired, ever so tired. When I emerged -there was the Master fondling a rose; I circled slowly past him and -around him. He saw me at once, and a tender look came into his eyes. -Reluctantly I left him caressing his roses, and flew rapidly home. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER SIXTEEN - -TIDINGS OF WOE] - - -It was still so early that a chill enveloped the world and the workers -awaited the sun. I rushed to where I knew I should find Crip, and -breathlessly began the narrative of my adventure. - -“I know just about what happened,” he ventured, when he had expressed his -joy at seeing me, for he knew that I had been on duty and that a number -of the guards had been lost. “I wept not a little for you. Yes, it was a -racoon,” he repeated. “You will remember I told you about them. They are -crazy over honey.” - -He was deeply interested in the account of my mad and unwilling ride. - -Then I told him of my visit to the garden, and of the Master. He made no -reply, but presently asked: - -“What do you know of the Master?” - -“Little—very little.” - -“Do you know that lately I’ve been wondering whether I have been fair -to him? Once I was perfectly sure that he was an enemy to be fought on -all occasions, that he made use of us only for selfish ends. Now I am -beginning to think I was wrong. While he has taken our honey, he has -always left us enough. Last winter, I am told, he actually brought a lot -of honey and gave it to the colonies that had none. Besides, before we -came in contact with men, we lived in caves and hollow trees, exposed to -all manner of enemies. It is different now.” - -We were still busy talking when the signal for work rang through the -hive, and both Crip and I made our way to the front. And, as many times -before, we rose from the board together and flew at once to the field -of broomweed. Side by side we ranged, visiting many of the tiny yellow -flowers ere we were laden. Everything was now painfully dry, and it was -all too evident that the honey flow was over. Try as hard as we might, -we gathered only a few loads a day. And Crip remarked how short the days -were and how far into the south the sun had drifted. Then, besides, we -were obliged to leave off earlier, on account of the cold. - -“The leaves are all turning red and brown and yellow,” said Crip, as we -flew homeward. “This is the melancholy time I’ve heard about. Even the -wind seems sad and loiters around bush and tree as though he feared his -caressing touch might hasten the down-dropping of the stricken leaves. -Happy, I’m sad, too.” - -I could only answer him that I of all bees was one of the most unhappy. -And at the moment I was stricken with a feeling of homesickness, as -though I, too, were bound on a journey toward the setting sun, or as -though an unmeasured catastrophe impended. - -As we neared home we saw the Master and his little Shadow seated by our -hive, and near them, sprawling on the ground, the faithful dog. The -Master was watching the incoming bees. Well he knew by the burdens they -bore the condition of the fields. - -“The workers are coming home very light,” remarked the Shadow. “Just a -little bread.” - -“The season is ended,” murmured the Master. “Soon they will go indoors -and rest through the cold. We must come presently and take off the empty -uppers, so as to concentrate the heat of the cluster. In that way they -will conserve their stores. The cluster, you know, son, is formed by the -bees covering over the brood and hanging on to one another so as to keep -themselves and the young bees warm.” - -Crip and I deposited our loads and then returned to the alighting-board, -but the speakers had gone. We could hear the Master singing in his -garden; and from a mesquite-tree hard by a mocking-bird answered him. All -too soon he ceased; and the bird, after trilling a few wild refrains, -as though to coax him to return, dropped into silence. For a time not a -sound was heard, then the bird broke out again in a most plaintive song. -He seemed to summon his phrases from the depths of despair. - -Twilight had now quite engulfed the world. Crip, who had been for a time -very still, began to stir restlessly. - -“Happy, that is my passing song. How could the bird have known that this -very night I shall cleave the air for the last time? Yes, I mean it. -Please don’t interrupt me. The year has gone—I have done my work. I am a -cripple, and my wings are tattered. I shall be a burden, eating the food -that may be needed ere the harvest again is ripe. My time has come—and I -must go into the dark. This is the law. Why should not bees fly away and -never return? How much grander to pass away on the wing, hushed to sleep -by the stars. How poor a thing it is to cling to the combs until death -shall drag one down to the earth, there to embarrass one’s brothers. - -“My work is done. My body is wrecked, and the golden call echoing from -eternity is in my ears. I must go. You, Happy, have much to do ere your -time shall come. But you will face life bravely. - -“How can I thank you enough for having saved my life? Do you think I have -done well? Have I worked faithfully? Hero, you say? No, not a hero; but -I have tried to do the things that came to my hand; and that is all that -one can do. That sums up the true meaning of life—service and duty done. - -“Hear the bird! What a song for the night! Ah, but what music I shall -hear soon when I fly out across the spaces of light! I am ready. I love -you. Farewell—farewell.” - -Crip had turned about for the last time, and was ready to go, when a -heartrending cry woke the innermost caverns of the hive. He staggered a -little, for he knew its meaning. I stood puzzled and amazed. - -“What is it?” I begged of him. - -“The worst of news—our Queen is dead!” he echoed. - -“Let us go to her at once.” - -In we went, and while I was shaken by the news which I did not fully -comprehend, I was sobered and silent. I should probably have had no -thought of death at all had I known what lay before us, the midnight ways -we were to tread. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - -The Death of the Queen] - - -As we hurried in search of her, on all sides there was wailing: -“Ai—ai—ai! Woe—woe—woe! Our Queen is dead!” - -A spirit of dread and disaster filled the place and shook us mightily. -Crip said never a word. - -“I remember you told me once you had lost your Queen-Mother—that was the -time I found you in the hive that we robbed. You were going to tell me -about it.” - -“Yes; but now it is too late—it is terrible. You do not understand—” - -At length we came to where she lay asleep on the bottom-board of the -house she had graced for so short a space. Around her surged her -children, weeping for the queenly dead. - -“She had been ill but a few days,” one said. - -“She has not been well since the robbery,” added another. - -“She was hurt in the fight,” put in a third. - -“But she did not complain,” answered another. - -Crip and I now in our turn came into the presence of the Queen lying -prone on the floor, her wings draped about her. There were present -none of the trappings of the dead, nor anything to show that she was -not asleep, so peacefully she lay there. I came presently face to face -with her, and once I had looked into her eyes I saw that the vision had -vanished, that the spirit had gone. - -I turned away sick at heart, wailing I know not what black hymn of -despair. Crip, too, I had lost, and I feared he had gone on his long -journey. I seemed to sink into a bottomless abyss. - -Soon I had partially recovered my composure. The commotion which -had swept the colony slowly subsided, although there still ran an -undercurrent of anxiety. What should we do? That part of the intelligence -of the bee which has to grapple with such emergencies had been active on -the instant. - -“The Queen is dead—long live the Queen,” was the low, reverential chorus. - -“Three Queens have been ordained,” ran the cry. - -Without knowing why, I hurried to the place which had been chosen for the -wax-cell palaces—and there was Crip! He appeared to be the leader, and I -was overjoyed to see him. - -“You’ve found something more to do,” I said to him. “I’m so glad.” - -“You see, I’m one of the oldest—” - -“Don’t look so dejected,” Crip volunteered to those about him. -“Hurry—hurry! Soon we shall have another Queen to reign over us.” - -And now magic began to intervene—or miracle. Three cells with three tiny -larvæ, two days old, were selected, and over these the great cell-palaces -were erected. But more mysterious was the feeding of these tiny things, -which under normal conditions would emerge workers. Think, then, of the -transformation which will produce a Queen! Thanks to a secret buried in -the heart of the bee, the worker, it is supposed, is converted, through -feeding, into a Queen. Crip told me all this in his cheerful way; and he -assumed so much importance in looking after the destinies of the three -royal personages, that once or twice I was irritated at his conduct. - -“Why three Queens?” I inquired, one day. “We need only one.” - -“To make sure that _one_ will survive. The bee takes no chance where it -can be avoided.” - -The embryonic Queens grew rapidly, and in due season the doors of the -palaces were sealed, not to be broken until her ladyship herself should -choose to bite her way to the light. - -The days were now being counted, even the hours, against the time when -She would appear! Once more a little life was manifest in the hive. -Workers went scouring the country for forage, and every bee found -something to do, so happy were they in anticipation of the coming event. - -The Master, too, had shown much interest in us. On one of the early days -of our trouble, in passing, he had discovered our condition. - -“They have lost their Queen,” he said to the little Shadow. “You can -tell that by their movements. Everything is now in confusion. Let us -see whether they have eggs or young larvæ available for the making of a -Queen.” - -With that he opened our hive and found the queen-cells. - -“Here are cells already,” he commented, a gleam of satisfaction on his -grave face. - -“Let me see!” cried the Shadow, poking a little, curious face around a -corner of the hive. - -The Master knew at a glance the age of the Queens, for the cells had -not been sealed; he knew that on such a day one would come forth amid -the acclaim of a colony which had languished between hope and fear—life -and death. So now, from day to day, with his little Shadow, he passed, -pausing in front of the hive long enough to discover whether the great -event had occurred. - -It was on a day golden with a sun steeped in the waning glory of an -Indian summer that the Queen emerged and took her throne. Crip and I had -gone to the lake for a load of water, and we should probably not have -missed the event had we not, out of curiosity, returned by the hollow -tree which our brothers of the swarm had occupied. We flew up to the very -entrance; the workers were filing past in a great stream, humming a note -of content. - -“They will survive,” I said to Crip. “The season has been a late one, and -they must have gathered ample stores.” - -We were in jubilant mood, on account of this discovery, which chimed in -perfectly with conditions at home, for even before we alighted the sound -of rejoicing reached us. - -“A Queen has been born! A Queen! A Queen!” - -We found a throng mad with rejoicings. Crip and I edged our way in, eager -to pay our homage, thrilling at the thought that a new lease of life for -the colony had been vouchsafed. We reached the place of the palace-cells, -only to find them in ruins. Excited bees were razing the last buttresses, -while echoing from all sides were: “A new mother has come! A Queen!” -Presently two beautiful Queens were led to execution, for one had been -crowned—and one only might rule the hive. - -Order was restored, and things went normally until the nuptial day. In -the life of the colony there is no equally vital event. Destiny waits on -the mating of the Queen. - -On a wonderfully fine, warm day, at the noon hour, she made ready for -flight. Already in the air could be heard the roar of the drones, -that groped about in search of the queenly presence. And now from the -alighting-board she rose into the crystal blue. Crip and I, for no -reason, followed, not near enough, however, to encroach on the sacred -precincts. Higher and higher she climbed, now pursued by some scores of -drones. Round and round in mazy flight they whirled until the heavens -seemed dizzy, and the ultimate moment had arrived, when a yellow flash -crossed the sky and fluttered in their midst—a bee-bird. - -“Fly for your life!” a drone cried. “Fly—fly!” - -A moment later it was all over, and a silent doomed procession dropped -earthward—the Queen was missing—the bee-bird had caught her. - -The news spread instantly. I had been among the first to make report of -it. - -“We shall all die together now,” said Crip, in dejection. “It is only -a matter of days. We have no eggs, no larvæ, and may not rear another -mother. Alas—alas!” - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - -Crip and the Imposter] - - -On the earlier occasion of the loss of the Queen there had been a brief -spasm of despair; but it had yielded, for the possibility of rearing -another rose uppermost. Now that possibility had vanished. There was -absolutely no hope. Death stalked abroad, and one by one, the eldest -first, the bees would go to their doom. There were no young bees to take -their places, nothing but dust and darkness. - -Several days passed, when one morning a great cry rang through the hive -that eggs had been found and that queen-cells had been started. It was a -strange and pathetic mystery, for we knew that we had no Queen, and yet -exulted over the finding of eggs. - -Still hoping beyond hope, we tried to create a Queen from the eggs—all in -vain. The eggs we now found deposited freely—one, two, or half-a-dozen -in a cell—were the eggs of an impostor, a would-be Queen, called a -fertile worker. - -Strangely enough, too, we began to work in a half-hearted way, gathering -honey, feeding the brood of the impostor, and yet we knew or seemed to -know that there would emerge but worthless drones. Hope still lingered in -our hearts, but daily it grew more faint until despair overcame us. - -One morning Crip and I were brooding over our affairs when we saw the -Master and his Shadow approaching. They stopped near us. - -“Something has happened,” said the Master; “something is wrong. We do not -need the smoker. Here, son, lend me a hand!” - -“A fertile worker—an impostor!” he exclaimed, on lifting up a frame from -the brood-chamber. “See those eggs dropped haphazard! A Queen never does -that.” - -“Why, there are six in one cell!” cried the Shadow. - -“Run, son, and bring me that Italian Queen in the new cage.” - -In a few minutes the cry of a Queen rang through the hive. Crip and I -flew toward it, and presently paused beside the trap which contained a -most beautiful Queen. But she was not _our_ Queen, and now a riot was -started. “Kill her—kill her!” broke on all sides. While Crip and I took -no part, we entered no protest—we stood almost alone. - -Over the cage, biting and clawing, a mob of bees, incited partly by -the impostor, endeavored to reach the royal personage. They meant to -kill her; first, because she was not of our tribe; secondly, because -the impostor had come to own an ascendency over the colony. It was a -strange fate, as Crip explained, that we should cling to an impostor and -die rather than bring an alien to reign over us. But Crip and I were -thinking, and so were many of our little brothers. Crip, on occasion, now -gave her food through the wire screen; while I found it convenient to -hang about the place. In the mean time the impostor spread her vile brood -over the hive, and kept up her conspiracy against the Queen the Master -had given us. - -Several days passed, and the Master, returning, found what he thought -a reconciliation. He opened the cage and out walked the most beautiful -Queen I had ever seen, except my own Queen-Mother. Instantly, however, a -troop of hostile bees, evidently led by the impostor, fell upon her, and -in a moment she was in the center of a “ball” and being slowly crushed to -death. - -The Master was watching, however, and quickly rescued her and restored -her to the cage. - -“They are not ready to receive her, son,” he said. “In fact, unless we -can destroy the fertile worker, that horrid impostor, we may not succeed.” - -“I’ve been thinking,” said Crip, to me that night as we stood by the cage -and listened to the regal call of the Queen, “that I shall fight the -first bee that comes near her.” - -“And so shall I.” - -Crip had just given her some honey, and was standing near her on the -screen when an ugly bee, unusually large, came up and caught hold of one -of her legs which had protruded through the meshes of the cage. He laid -hold of it and pulled it with all his might, and the Queen began to cry -with pain, when Crip rushed to the rescue. - -A terrific battle ensued. I tried to help, and did seize the vicious -bee by one wing, only to be kicked off. But Crip had grappled him in -his vise-like mandibles, and I saw it was a battle to the death. Over -and over they whirled, finally to fall to the bottom of the hive—still -fighting. I followed as fast as I might, and when I reached where they -lay they had ceased to struggle—both were dead. - -A lance wound in his heart had finished my beloved friend. - -“Crip—Crip!” I cried aloud; but got no answer. One little foot moved a -few times, then was still. - -Almost simultaneously an alarm sounded. The impostor had disappeared. - -I shook with an unrestrained emotion. “We are saved,” I thought. - -“Where is our Queen? The Queen is gone!” they called. - -A wild rush of bees set the hive in pandemonium. Finally one began to -cry: “Here she is—she is dead.” - -“Dead—dead!” rose loud over the place. - -They were wailing over the lifeless body of the impostor, while I stood -broken-hearted beside my Crip, who, at the sacrifice of his life, had -redeemed that of the colony. - - - - -[Illustration: CHAPTER NINETEEN - -FAREWELL] - - -Two days later the Master came and opened the door of the cage, and the -new Queen he had brought walked boldly out on the combs, to be wildly -acclaimed, “Mother!” The hostility which had been displayed toward her -had totally disappeared, and in its place had come affection. The death -of the impostor had wrought a profound revolution, and everywhere my poor -Crip was proclaimed a hero. - -Within the space of an hour every egg and every young bee which the -impostor had left was dragged out and cast to the ants; and almost at -once the new Queen began to deposit eggs of her kind, and the hymn of -rejoicing that welled up in that hive of many calamities cannot well be -imagined. I think that I more than any other was moved to the bottom of -my being. - -It is not possible for me to express the loneliness which came over me -at thought of Crip’s death. We had been such dear companions, and he had -been so kind and wise. - -When another day had dawned and the sun had sufficiently warmed the air, -I went into the fields with the rest, but I seemed to wander as in a -dream. All the while the desire possessed me to fly farther and farther -away. Had I, too, lived out my period of usefulness? But Crip said that I -had not, and I acted in this faith. - -On my next excursion into the fields I felt a tremor in the air such as -I remembered from another time, when the storm had broken. Black clouds, -too, loomed on the horizon and little snake-like flames crawled in and -out among them. This time I was not so eager to secure a load, and made -off with all possible speed. Scarcely had I reached home when the rain -began to fall in sheets and the thunder rattled frightfully. In a little -while it was over; the sky was clear, but a dreadful wind from the north -blew like a hurricane and it grew cold. By the next day it was so cold -that we formed a cluster about the brood in order to keep it warm. We, -too, were cold, and not a bee ventured from the hive. - -Three days passed ere it was warm enough for us to look outside; and when -I saw the world again, truly I was shocked. Everything was black and bare. - -“The frost has fallen, not a flower remains alive,” mournfully exclaimed -one of the nurses. - -This was surely the winter of which I had heard so much. Happily, the -Master came to our assistance by closing the door of our house, leaving -but the smallest hole for our passage. This helped greatly in the matter -of our keeping warm when the northers swooped upon us. - -The season now alternated between moderately warm days and biting weeks -of cold. On all days fit for flight, we sailed into the air for exercise -and for the care of our bodies. - -Close, close to one another we packed during the cold days and nights, -and in this way generated enough heat to keep the hive warm and -habitable. Life was monotonous. We were limited in our activities to -caring for the brood and to policing the hive. There was little enough -to do on the latter score, save on warm days. Then we searched out every -nook and corner to see that the moth had not entered, for she was the -mother of the web-worms, and I, for one, had the utmost respect for them. -Sometimes harmless beetles were found, and, much as we hated to send them -into the cold, we felt it must be done. Sometimes they went peacefully, -but often enough we were compelled to drag them bodily forth—and -occasionally we were forced to destroy them. - -And so the days ran on. As for me, I employed them in meditation. What -could be more conducive to reflection than the long, dark hours of quiet -that reign in a winter-bound hive? Slowly, ever so slowly, I neared the -end of my task. - -And now I have come to the end. There remains only to tell what these -last days held for me. Already the winter has gone and I am ready. Even -as poor Buzz-Buzz, I feel that my labors are done. I am old and worn and -need to make way for the young life which is already singing about me. -The Queen-Mother, aware of conditions, has been scattering her brood over -wide spaces, and already young bees, flapping their wings frantically, -are stumbling over the combs, and hundreds more of them soon will be -waiting for the signal to go into the fields. Eagerly will they try their -first wings and eagerly will they gather from the flowers the pollen and -honey that unfailingly come with the spring. - -Even as I—even as a hundred thousand generations before me—will -they marvel at the mysteries that surround them, but, undaunted and -undismayed, they will fly into the face of the sun or struggle in the -teeth of the hurricane! It is youth that knows no danger, that brooks no -defeat, that pursues, that conquers. It is youth that constructs, that -hopes, that achieves—youth that charges the heavens with glory! - -Crip was right. Now age has torn my wings and rendered my body nearly -useless. While I am still alive, I am among the dying—but, dying, I shall -live again. - -February has come and already the grass is green and the yellow -catclaw-buds are bursting. The great tree that stands hard by is a-bloom. -The alarm has been sounded, and out into the world the bees fly by tens -and hundreds. I, too, cannot resist the call and rise into the air, -driving toward a place I well remember. Sheltered from the north wind and -exposed to the sun, a little slope lies dotted with daisies. In its midst -a catclaw-tree sways like a golden ball in the breeze, and about it hum -a score of bees. I, too, gather my load and wend my way homeward, but at -heart I am weary. I had imagined that I alone knew of this particular -spot. Alas! there are no secrets. - -Flying out again, I took another course—one which led me over the -Master’s cottage. There he was in his garden, pondering his roses. Round -him I circled twice, thrice, until, perceiving me, he followed me with -his eyes until I passed from his vision. - -Then on I went to the place of the sunflowers, but where once had been -beautiful blossoms the green grass waved in triumph. - -It seemed to me that a never-ending night followed this excursion. I -rested little or none; back and forth I raced from end to end of the -hive, and from the entrance to my cell, which I had not forgotten. -I passed and re-passed the Queen-Mother at her tasks, touching her -reverently as one might touch the garment of a saint. - -At length the gray light broke along the horizon and gleams of color -pierced the low-lying clouds. My time had come. I felt the call, and -there was no denying the command. - -For a moment I seemed in a maze. Round and round I turned, like a child -lost in the wilderness, then made straight for the entrance, where -already a few of the hardier and younger workers were assembled, waiting -for the light. How restless they seemed; how they longed to be off in the -world; how alluring the unattained; how fascinating the great adventure -of life! - - * * * * * - -As best I might, I have told my story, and here it must end. I have -striven; I have dreamed; and as far as ever it comes to God’s creatures, -I have been—HAPPY. Farewell! - -[Illustration: THE END] - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HAPPY *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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