76 The Htmting IVasps 



Again, to iind live Crickets is an easy matter : 

 we have but to lift the first stone that we see 

 and we find them crouching underneath, shel- 

 tered 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 pre- 

 parations. I climb to the top of my observa- 

 tory, 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 I am about to witness. The 

 terrified Cricket takes to flight, hopping as fast 

 as he can ; the Sphex pursues him hot-foot, 

 reaches him, rushes upon him. There follows, 

 amid the dust, a confused encounter, wherein 

 each champion, now victor, now vanquished, by 



