THE BEE. 357 



direction it wouM be best to fell the tree, two men com- 

 menced with their axes at its root. As one stroke suc- 

 ceeded another the bees seemed a little alarmed, but they 

 did not come down to offer any resistance. While two 

 were cutting down the tree, others were collecting large 

 strips of birch-bark for torches. Just as the tree was 

 ready to fall two or three stood ready with their birch- 

 bark flambeaux, and at the moment the tree fell, they ran 

 to the hole from which the bees were rushing, and burnt 

 them down as fast as possible. The bees however were 

 in spite of their torches, flying thickly about, and making 

 a most desperate resistance. All the men were stung 

 more or less, but they did not seem to mind the bees 

 more than a swarm of flies. Very soon the ground was 

 covered with the poor little insects crawling about with 

 their wings singed off. The bees seemed now perfectly 

 satisfied that resistance was in vain, and with a prudence 

 which was perfectly amazing, they gave up the contest. 

 The men very soon split open the tree and exposed the 

 honey to view. The comb was still covered with thou- 

 sands of the insects, who were endeavoring to save all 

 that they could from the dreadful ruin of their happy 

 home. Much as I loved honey I could not restrain a 

 feeling of sincere compassion. And I would gladly 

 have seen the tree again erected, and the bees in the un- 

 troubled enjoyment of their well earned stores. A man 

 would take up a large piece of comb, and with his bare 

 hand, brush off the thousand of bees collected upon it. 

 Soon the honey was all deposited in the pails, and our 

 party returned triumphantly home with their booty. The 

 poor bees were left, some to seek another home, and 

 others to linger and die in protracted agonies on the 

 ground. In this way immense quantities of honey are 

 every year taken. And this is generally the only reward 

 the bee receives for the lonof labors of the summer. In 

 the autumn we suffocate them with the fumes of sulphur, 

 and ourselves revel upon the sweets which they had col- 

 lected for their winter stores. 



