THE CHASE 123 



did not see the spider's poisonous fangs. If we 

 were to wait a little longer, another bumble-bee 

 might perhaps come and then I should see it better." 



"It is not necessary to wait," replied Uncle Paul. 

 "If we proceed skilfully we can make the spider 

 recommence its hunting manoeuvers. All of you 

 look attentively." 



Uncle Paul searched among the field flowers for a 

 moment and caught a large fly; then, holding it by 

 one wing, put it near the web. The insect, beating 

 about, gets entangled in the threads. The web 

 shakes, the spider leaves its bee and runs, delighted 

 with the fortunate chance that brings him prey again 

 so quickly. The same manoeuvers begin again. 

 The fly is first strangled; the epeira opens its 

 pointed fangs, stings the fly a little, and all is over. 

 The victim trembles, stretches itself out, and ceases 

 to move. 



"Ah! that time I saw it," said Jules, satisfied at 

 last. 



"Claire, did you notice the fineness of the spider's 

 fangs!" asked Emile. "I am sure that in your 

 needle-case you haven't any such fine-pointed nee- 

 dles." 



1 ' I dare say not. As for me, what surprises me the 

 most is not the fineness of the spider's fangs, but the 

 quickness of the victim's death. It seems to me that 

 a fly as large as this one ought not to die so quickly 

 even from the coarser pricks of our needles." 



"Very true," assented her uncle. "An insect 

 transfixed by a pin still lives a Ion- linn*: but if it 

 is only pricked by the fine point of the spider's 



