88 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



on the head, and was oflf again in a 

 moment. The sting drew blood, besides 

 being excessively painful. I was once 

 stung by two of them while riding at a 

 foot's pace by their nest, on the back of 

 the head. The pain was most severe. 

 Tenderness down the neck and in the 

 part remained for more than two weeks 

 afterwards." 



That was too bad, and seems quite inex- 

 cusable ; still, the hornets doubtless would 

 argue that Dr. King had no business to be 

 riding so close to their nest ; and as for 

 the one that behaved so shamefully in the 

 kirk, what proof have we that bad little 

 boys, who had not gone to church, had 

 not been stirring up the hornets, and en- 

 raged them to the point of being glad to 

 sting any human head they could reach ? 



At least the hornets that drove Lord 

 Clyde's army into the river were excus- 

 able, as they were first attacked by the 

 soldiers. 



