THE SACRED BEETLE 13 



lack of precision in the combined movements : the 

 Scarab at the back would do as well and better if left to 

 himself. And so the helper, after giving a proof of his 

 good-will at the risk of disturbing the mechanism, decides 

 to keep still, without, of course, abandonmg the precious 

 ball, which he already looks upon as his : finding is keep- 

 ing ; a ball touched is a ball gained. He will commit no 

 such imprudence : the other might give him the slip ! 



He, therefore, gathers his legs under his belly, flattens 

 himself, encrusts himself, so to speak, on the ball and 

 becomes one with it. Henceforth, the whole concern — ■ 

 ball and Beetle clinging to its surface — rolls along, pushed 

 by the lawful owner. Whether the load passes over his 

 body, whether he occupies the top, the bottom or the side 

 of the rolling burden matters little to the intruder, who sits 

 tight and lies low. A singular helper this, who has himself 

 driven in a carriage to secure his share of the victuals ! 



But a steep ascent heaves in sight and gives him a fine 

 part to play. He now, on the stiff slope, takes the lead, 

 holding the heavy mass with his toothed arms, while 

 his mate seeks a purchase to hoist the load a little higher. 

 Thus, by a combination of well-managed efforts, the one 

 above gripping, the one below pushing, I have seen them 

 together mount acclivities where the stubborn determina- 

 tion of one alone would have come to naught. But not 

 all have the same zeal at these difficult moments : there 

 are some who, on slopes where their assistance is most 

 needed, seem not in the least aware of the difficulties 

 to overcome. While the unhappy Sisyphus exhausts 

 himself in endeavours to pass the dangerous place, the 

 other quietly leaves him to do his best and, himself 

 encrusted on the ball, rolls down with it, when it comes 

 to grief, and is hoisted up with it anew. 



