AN EVENING WITH THE HORNETS. 131 



siege at half-past eight ; by that time it was 

 as dark as it was likely to be for some hours, 

 for the young moon, a day old, was shining 

 as brightly as it could be expected to do at 

 that early age. 



We did not like to put a ladder against 

 the tree for fear of arousing the sentry. We 

 found a rotten old pair of painter's steps, and 

 this Harris, our bailiff, trailed down to the 

 island ; it was heavy and lumbering, and he 

 had to scramble along the shaky posts and 

 rails. When he was half-way across, the two 

 parts of the steps separated, one piece falling 

 into the water with a great splash, which 

 certainly disturbed the sentry and some of 

 the guard, for there was much buzzing about 

 afterwards. Therefore, I presume, they pos- 

 sess the sense of hearing, which has been 

 questioned as regards bees and ants. Thus, 

 after all, we had to place the steps against 

 the tree as gently as it could be done. 



Joyce was the hero of the occasion. He 

 put on a thick pair of leather gloves, and I 

 tied the cuffs of his coat over them ; then I 

 covered his head and shoulders with a thin 

 white gauze, which he could see through. 

 Thus equipped, he cautiously mounted the 

 steps to inspect, and as quickly descended, 

 for there, at the mouth of the hole, was a 



