GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



711 



LFARETTA '" ex- 

 clduned Fied, in an 

 excited tone 



' An dngel to oui 

 rescue,'' said Matt, 

 at the same time; 

 and they jostled 

 each other as they 

 struggled to peer 

 through the deep 

 and intricate crev- 

 ice, and both lost 

 their hold upon the 

 slippery chalk, and were nearly submerged 

 again. 



" Fred Anderson, where are you ? " shouted a 

 strong voice beyond. 

 " Mr. Buell," said Fred and Matt joyfully. 

 Fred shouted through the crevice, " Mr. 

 Buell, we are jugged in here, and are unable 

 to get out; but hold your boat outside a few 

 minutes and I will tell you what to do. Now 

 Matt," said Fred, with an air of business, "I 

 have an impression that there is a larger open- 

 ing out to the river a few feet below us. The 

 water is so turbid we can see scarcely a foot 

 Into it; but I think I shall chance a dive to find 

 out." 



" Misther Fred, I don't wish to interfere with 

 yer plans; but it may be a parilous undertak- 

 ing; there's false pockets and channels, as you 

 know, and a chance fur yees to get into one 

 and niver come out. Now, Fred, it's mesilf 

 that's a poor plain Irisnman, and not of so 

 much use to the world as yees are; let me do 

 the diving; and if it comes to the worst, me 

 body'd betther be food fur fishes than yer own 

 good silf." 



•' My dear generous Matt," replied Fred, with 

 much feeling, "this is my plan, and I am the 

 one to carry it out; besides," said he, with a 

 touch of bitterness, " it is better, perhaps^ to 

 become food for fishes than to love — " Here he 

 paused; "but, Matt," said he, resuming, 

 "there's one bright ray of hope. If I cross to 

 the other shore, and in the sweet by and by 

 meet her we'll never part, for there's joy and 

 no lunatics in heaven." With these words Fred 

 dove quickly under the water. 



"God bless him,'" said Matt; "and may the 

 saints speed his parilous journey to a success- 

 ful ending." 



Fred felt his way rapidly down the fissure; 

 and, as he expected, it opened out wider at the 



bottom After a few bumps upon projecting 

 rocks he followed the dim light that now pen- 

 etrated the water, a nd soon came to the surface 

 about tell feet from Mr. Buell's boat. 



"Why, Fred Anderson! where did you come 

 from ? " said Mr. Buell, his eyes starting with 

 surprise; and he pushed his boat over to the 

 aid of his struggling friend. 



" 1 1 a, ha ! been to see the mermaids, Freddy? " 

 shouted Alfaretta. Then as the stern of the 

 boat swung up to Fred she sang: 



" I would be a mermaid fair; 

 With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair; 

 And still as I combed 1 would sing- and say, 

 ' Who is it loves me ? who is it loves me ? ' " 



At any other time Fred would have shown 

 embarrassment under this query; but just now 

 he was struggling to regain his breath and ex- 

 pel water from his breathing-passages. As 

 soon as he had regained the command of his 

 voice he told Mr. Buell to shout into the fissure 

 to Matt Hogan. Matt had been anxiously 

 waiting, and the moments seemed long drawn 

 out. When he heard the call he gave a joyful 

 shout, and in a few moments he too had per- 

 formed the diving act and was struggling for 

 breath a few feet from the boat. Taking them 

 in tow Mr. Buell rowed them ashore. They 

 were much exhausted upon reaching solid 

 ground; but as soon as Fred could do so he 

 said, "Mr. Buell, how did you know we were 

 in that pool? " 



"We were rowing up the river toward the 

 Ghering landing," answered Mr. Buell, " and 

 saw you at work on the chalk butte, and then 

 saw you both suddenly disappear with your 

 arms in the air, and a cloud of dust puffing 

 up. Alfaretta gave a cry of alarm. I knew 

 your shelf of chalk had given way, and that 

 you were somewhere below. I rowed as fast as 

 possible to your rescue, but I was delayed sev- 

 eral minutes by the bee defenders of the clifif. 

 I had to arrange to the boat-awning the mos- 

 quito-netting which you know we always carry 

 as a safeguard against river insects; and not 

 till we were well protected could we make fur- 

 ther approach. I came up to see you transfer 

 the bees, and tell you about the meeting at the 

 Dawson ranch; but I think you will no feel 

 much like work or conversation until you 

 change your clothing and have a good rest; so 

 I will go home and come up again to-morrow." 



"Mr. Buell, I can not express in words my 

 gratitude to you for your timely aid." 



