The Sacred Beetle 



ing services rendered. It is " Heads I win, 

 tails you lose " in these tactics, so that pillage 

 is practised as one of the most lucrative of 

 trades. Some go to work craftily, in the 

 way which I have described: they come 

 to the aid of a comrade who has not the least 

 need of them and hide the most barefaced 

 greed under the cloak of charitable assist- 

 ance. Others, bolder perhaps, more con- 

 fident in their strength, go straight to their 

 goal and commit robbery with violence. 



Scenes are constantly happening such as 

 this : a Scarab goes off, peacefully, by him- 

 self, rolling his ball, his lawful property, 

 acquired by conscientious work. Another 

 comes flying up, I know not whence, drops 

 down heavily, folds his dingy vvings under 

 their cases and, with the back of his toothed 

 fore-arms, knocks over the owner, who is 

 powerless to ward oft the attack in his 

 awkward position, harnessed as he is to his 

 property. While the victim struggles to his 

 feet, the other perches himself atop the ball, 

 the best position from which to repel an 

 assailant. With his fore-arms crossed over 

 his breast, ready to hit back, he awaits 

 events. The dispossessed one moves round 

 the ball, seeking a favourable spot at which 

 to make the assault; the usurper spins round 



15 



