HAPPY 



We were in jubilant mood, on account of this dis- 

 covery, which chimed in perfectly with conditions at 

 home, for even before we alighted the sound of re- 

 joicing reached us. 



"A Queen has been born! A Queen! A Queen!" 



We found a throng mad with rejoicings. Crip and 

 I edged our way in, eager to pay our homage, thrilling 

 at the thought that a new lease of life for the colony 

 had been vouchsafed. We reached the place of the 

 palace-cells, only to find them in ruins. Excited bees 

 were razing the last buttresses, while echoing from all 

 sides were: "A new mother has come! A Queen!" 

 Presently two beautiful Queens were led to execution, 

 for one had been crowned and one only might rule 

 the hive. 



Order was restored, and things went normally until 

 the nuptial day. In the life of the colony there is no 

 equally vital event. Destiny waits on the mating of 

 the Queen. 



On a wonderfully fine, warm day, at the noon hour, 

 she made ready for flight. Already in the air could 

 be heard the roar of the drones, that groped about in 

 search of the queenly presence. And now from the 

 alighting-board she rose into the crystal blue. Crip 

 and I, for no reason, followed, not near enough, how- 

 ever, to encroach on the sacred precincts. Higher and 

 higher she climbed, now pursued by some scores of 

 drones. Round and round in mazy flight they whirled 

 until the heavens seemed dizzy, and the ultimate mo- 

 ment had arrived, when a yellow flash crossed the sky 

 and fluttered in their midst a bee-bird. 



" Fly for your life !" a drone cried. " Fly fly !" 

 no 



