I THE SACRED BEETLE ii 



struggles to its feet the aggressor stations itself 

 on the top of the ball, as a point of vantage whence 

 to repel attack, folds its feet under its breast, ready 

 for action, and awaits events. The bereaved owner 

 moves round the ball, seeking a favourable point 

 whence to attempt an assault ; the thief revolves on 

 the top of the citadel, constantly facing him. If the 

 former raises itself for an escalade, the latter gives it 

 a cuff which stretches it flat on its back. Secure on 

 the top of the fortress, the besieged would bring to 

 nought for all time the efforts of its adversary to 

 recover its lost property if the besieger did not alter 

 his tactics. Sapping threatens to bring down both 

 citadel and garrison. The ball being undermined, 

 staggers and rolls, carrying with it the robber, strug- 

 gling his hardest to keep at the top, which he 

 generally succeeds in doing, thanks to the hurried 

 gymnastics that enable him to regain the altitude 

 lost by the rotation of his standing place. If a 

 false movement should bring him to the ground, the 

 chances become equal, and the contest turns to a 

 wrestling match. Robber and robbed grapple body 

 to body, breast to breast. Their feet twist and 

 untwist, their joints intertwine, their horny armour 

 clashes and grinds with the harsh sound of filed 

 metal. Then one will succeed in throwing its 

 adversary on the back, and, freeing itself, hastily 

 takes up a position on the top of the ball, and the 

 siege is recommenced, now by the robber, now by 

 the robbed, as the chances of the fight may have 

 decided. The former, no doubt a hardy brigand 

 and adventurer, often gets the best of it. After two 

 or three defeats the ex-owner wearies of the contest 



