CHAPTER IX. 



CAVE-DAVEJ.LING INSECTS. 



" Hello, Harry ! The Doctor wants to see a ])um- 

 ble-bees' nest. Can you tind one for him ?" 



Harry, who was crossing the field within easy call, 

 ran eagerly toward us at this greeting, for the very 

 name bumble-bee has a stirring influence upon a lad 

 who knows anything of the country. If there were a 

 " bum-bees' " nest anywhere in the neighborhood I knew 

 that Harry might be trusted to point out the locality ; 

 and accordingly the lad was soon at our side, his 

 face aglow with a sense of importance and anticipated 

 pleasure. 



The Doctor, however, war, taken somewhat by sur- 

 prise. "My dear sir," he cried, "I am not the least 

 aware of any such want as you have expressed. On 

 the contrary, I heartily excuse Harry from all service 

 in the way of humble-bee hunting." 



" No, no, Doctor. You cannot escape so easily. You 

 are committed to a search after the most ancient cave- 

 dwellers, and it would be too bad to omit such distin- 

 guished representatives as the humble-bee. Here is 

 Harry quite ready to encourage your antiquarian tastes, 

 and he would be disappointed now were you to turn 



back. Can you lead us to a bumble-bees' nest, Harry?" 



143 



