AN EVENING WITH THE HORNETS. 133 



sally tree, we all now looked like robbers or 

 murderers in the midst of a wood, with dark 

 lantern, pick, and spade, digging a grave in 

 which to bury a dead body, the pale moon 

 shining on the lake below us. 



Now we made another attack on the strong 

 fortress on the island. Joyce sprang over 

 the fence like a young antelope, and Harris 

 followed with lantern and matches. Joyce 

 was soon equipped again in his headgear 

 and gloves. With squib in one hand and 

 turf in the other, he mounted the ladder, 

 while Harris, barefaced, barehanded, and 

 cool as a cucumber, held the lantern up, 

 struck a match, and applied it to the end of 

 Joyce's squib. It fizzed splendidly. Joyce 

 put it quickly into the hole, then firmly 

 dabbed on the turf and descended the ladder 

 in triumph, without wound or scar. 



We thought we had bagged all the hornets, 

 so we left them " stewing in their own juice." 

 Next morning early I went to the elm on the 

 lawn and the lime in the orchard, and there 

 were my hornets, as thick and as busy as 

 ever, going and coming over the barn as if 

 nothing had happened ! I started off for the 

 island as fast as I could go, and there I saw 

 a notice up, " Business carried on as usual 

 during the alterations? 



