The Three Dagger-thrusts 



you to observe every detail of the drama 

 closely. 



Again, to find live Crickets is an easy mat- 

 ter: we have but to lift the first stone that 

 we see and we find them crouching under- 

 neath, sheltered from the sun. These 

 Crickets are young ones, of the same year, 

 who as yet boast but rudimentary wings 

 and who, not possessing the industry of the 

 full-grown insect, have not learnt to dig 

 those cavernous retreats where they would 

 be safe from the Sphex' investigations. In 

 a few moments I have as many live Crickets 

 as I could wish for. This completes my 

 preparations. I climb to the top of my ob- 

 servatory, establish myself on the level 

 ground, in the centre of the Sphex village, 

 and wait. 



A huntress appears upon the scene, carts 

 her Cricket to the entrance of the home and 

 goes down her burrow by herself. I quickly 

 remove the Cricket and substitute one of mine, 

 placing him, however, some distance away 

 from the hole. The kidnapper returns, 

 looks round and runs and seizes the victim, 

 which is too far off for her. I am all eyes, 

 all attention. Nothing would induce me to 

 give up my part in the tragic spectacle which 

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