BEE HUNTING 



found the hive. The tree was a pine, two feet 

 through near the ground. The gale had bro- 

 ken it where the bees entered and so the part 

 with the honey in it was on the ground. About 

 a peck of bees had clung to the top of the stub. 

 The ground around the tree was black with 

 bees. The tree had split open and honey was 

 slowly running out and dropping on to the 

 pine needles. There were over two hundred 

 pounds of honey in that tree when standing. 

 The bees that were carrying away honey were 

 mostly from tame swarms, but the woods were 

 full of bees hunting for the store. I called 

 my friend, and while he was coming I chopped 

 out the honey. I did not disturb the comb, 

 only to break off some to eat. The next day 

 we returned in a team which we left in a clear- 

 ing to the north and about one and a half miles 

 from the honey. My friend was mortally 

 afraid of bees. He swore that they would 

 follow him into the house and sting him. I 

 worked on the honey, filling buckets without 

 protection. As it was a warm day, I worked 

 bare-armed. The bees were completely harm- 

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