ARGONAUT AMD GEOMETER. 221 



the details seem better to correspond with one of our 

 connnon species of hne-weavers. I have never seen 

 any sort of spider trying to reach distant points by 

 'oscillating threads, but have often ol)served them sway- 

 ing in the wind. But the lesson is worth heeding, liy 

 whatever species taught, and even though it be a fable, 

 which is not unlikely, our race has a decided tendency 

 to associate its heroes with such incidents. The story 

 of Bruce and the spider, for example, has its counter- 

 part in that of Timon and the ant. 



"This tendency is well illustrated by another series 

 of incidents in which an orb-weaver is, without doul)t, 

 the spider referred to. A friend of mine once told me 

 that one of his ancestors, during the massacre of 

 Wyoming, had been saved from death in this way : He 

 tied before the savages, and was pursued closely by a 

 warrior, whom he succeeded at last iu eluding, and took 

 refuge in a hollow tree. He had scarcely entered ere a 

 spider began to spin a web across the opening, and 

 wrought so vigorously that in a short time she had 

 woven a beautiful round snare that completely covered 

 the hole into which the fugitive had crept. The web 

 had just been completed, and the spider settled in the 

 center, on the watch for prey, when the pursuing Indian 

 appeared. He peered under and into every place that 

 could possibly afford shelter to a man, and, at last, 

 came to the hollow tree. He glanced at the unbroken 

 \wh and the spider quietly seated upon it, concluded 

 that no one could liave crept into that spot, and hurried 

 on. My friend gave name, date, species and location of 



