THE LIFE OF A BEE 



But once again they fell upon him, and presently they 

 had cut him entirely to pieces, carrying away every 

 scrap for a feast. 



In the economy of things, these worms had grown 

 and fattened on the refuse of our hive, and now they 

 had become food in their turn for a host of tiny crea- 

 tures which roamed the earth below, all this seemingly 

 in accordance with some unknown law. 



I stood there watching them for some time, until 

 the last ant made off, following with unerring aim the 

 trail of his fellows. Soon they were lost to sight. It 

 seemed to me that this last one disappeared under a 

 log where the Master often sat. I wondered what re- 

 lation there might be between them, if in some mys- 

 terious way they worked together, for I remembered 

 that Crip had told me that not only the Master, but 

 even the ants, sometimes raided our hives, taking our 

 honey. I turned to ask him to explain, but he was 

 not to be seen among the bees swarming upon the 

 board. I must find him. 



