3 1 8 Trails to Woods and Waters 



" After that, men and animals became so 

 afraid of the bees that they left them very 

 much alone, and they were happier and more 

 powerful than they had been before. 



" When these bees with the poison tails 

 came to hatch little new bees, it was discovered 

 that the new bees had inherited the poison 

 tail, which greatly delighted the queen and 

 all the swarm. 



" The bees with the poison tail who lived 

 in the old hollow maple were so much better 

 able to take care of themselves that all the 

 old kind soon died out, until to-day all the 

 bees in these parts have the stinger, as bears 

 and boys and men can testify." 



" That's a fine story, Ben," I said at the 

 conclusion of the tale. " Can't you think of 

 another?" 



Ben refilled his pipe and pulled away at it 

 thoughtfully for a few moments, then said: 



" Don't think I ever told you how it was 

 that the snake changes his suit every year. 

 Perhaps that would interest you. 



" Well, when the snake went into the 



