THE ADVENTURES OF A GRUB 



into the swarm, or — above all — who laid a rash hand 

 on the Bees' dwellings, would instantly be stabbed by 

 a thousand stings. I had once observed the combs of the 

 Hornet too closely; and a shiver of fear passed through 

 me. 



Yet, to find out what I wished to know, I must needs 

 penetrate that fearsome swarm; I must stand for whole 

 hours, perhaps all day, watching the works I intended 

 to upset; lens in hand, I must examine, unmoved amid 

 the whirl, the things that were happening in the cells. 

 Moreover, the use of a mask, of gloves, of a covering 

 of any kind, was out of the question, for my fingers and 

 eyes must be absolutely free. No matter : even though 

 I should leave the Bee's nest with my face swollen 

 beyond recognition, I was determined that day to solve 

 the problem that had puzzled me too long. 



Having caught a few stray Anthophorse with my net, 

 I satisfied myself that the Sitaris-larvae were perched, as 

 I expected, on the Bees. 



I buttoned my coat tightly and entered the heart of 

 the swarm. With a few blows of the mattock I secured 

 a lump of earth, and to my great surprise found myself 

 uninjured. A second expedition, longer than the first, 

 had the same result: not a Bee touched me with her 

 sting. After this I remained permanently in front of 

 the nest, removing lumps of earth, spilling the honey, 



[169] 



