338 HUNTING IN THE JUNGLE. 



explained to our host how they proposed by these 

 prisoners to discover the hive, and obtain a coveted 

 supply of honey. 



In five minutes we were all in the saddle, and, the 

 Australians leading, started in the direction in wdiich 

 the first bee, when liberated, flew. As soon as we were 

 distanced by this rapid guide, another was let go, and 

 so on, until, at the tremendous pace we were going, I 

 felt we must have travelled twenty miles, for we did 

 not even draw rein when a fresh bee was freed. The 

 pace was beginning to tell on one of our party, and 

 afterward he confessed to me he had never ridden 

 so hard in his life. To add to his sufferings, his saddle 

 began to slip, and, cling as he might, it surely and 

 slowly disappeared beneath his horse's belly, leaving 

 him, like Mazeppa, at the beast's mercy. It was no 

 laughing matter, although he did appear most supremely 

 ridiculous ; for, riding as hard as we could, Ave could not 

 catch his frightened pony, which easily led the liunt. 

 Luckily for him, the animal entered into the pursuit 

 with intelligence as well as zest ; and when at last 

 the dead tree, groaning beneath its weight of stored 

 sweets, was reached, he stopped with the rest, and 

 ended his mad career as gently as he had begun it. 



Loaded with honey, we continued our way at a more 

 comfortable jog, reaching our host's broad verandas in 

 time to enjoy a more luxurious bed than we had seen 

 for many nights. 



