98 THE BROOK BOOK 



rapidity that I was quite unable to adjust myself 

 to the course of events. That spider had actually 

 had the presence of mind to attach the end of her 

 thread to the web before launching on* what would 

 have been otherwise a perilous voyage into space. 

 Call it instinct if you like. I wish the human 

 race possessed more of it. It always pays to take 

 a rope in case of accident! 



After this exciting adventure the spider quietly 

 returned to her dinner. I expected to see her 

 abandon the first capture for one of the five other 

 victims waiting their turn in various parts of the 

 web, but she took no notice of them. I have 

 wondered ever since whether she built a new web 

 the next day, according to the traditions of her 

 family, and so wasted all that good provender. 

 Or was she worldly-wise enough to mend the old 

 one and make it do until her larder was empty? 



