A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



can find the tall tree, it would be a good plan 

 to go to it and set the compass, and begin 

 to bush a path along the line. As you pro- 

 gress on the line, hunt all the trees on each 

 side. If you can find an open spot anywhere, 

 set up your staff and box. You might find 

 that the bees were returning on the line, then 

 you would know that you had passed the 

 hive. If bees enter a piece of woods, and 

 there is an open spot beyond, they can be 

 started from the open spot to decide if they 

 turn back or go on. It is unnecessary for me 

 to go further into the details of lining. It 

 is a poor hunter that cannot overcome ob- 

 stacles that spring up in his way. When the 

 tree is located, trouble begins. There are 

 two ways of taking up the honey. One way 

 is to plug the hole where the bees enter the 

 tree, and then cut or bore a hole near the 

 ground and insert the nose of an old tea- 

 kettle filled with burning brimstone. The 

 next day the bees will be dead, and the honey 

 will be cool to handle. This is the method 

 pursued by market hunters. I never took 

 230 



