The Sacred Beetle in Captivity 



distribute a few sous as earnest-money. I 

 arrange to be there next week, on the same 

 day and at the same time, and faithfully to 

 perform my part of the bargain towards all 

 those who have made the lucky find. After 

 carefully posting the party in their duties, I 

 dismiss them. 



" He means It! " the children said, as they 

 went away. " He really means it! If only 

 we could make a franc apiece ! " 



And, their hearts swelling with fond 

 hopes, they clinked the sous in their hands. 

 The flattened bullets were forgotten. I saw 

 the children scatter over the plain and begin 

 their search. 



On the appointed day, a week later, I re- 

 turned to the plateau. I was confident of 

 success. My young helpers were sure to 

 have spoken to their playmates of this 

 lucrative trade in Beetle-balls and convinced 

 the incredulous by displaying their earnest- 

 money. And indeed I found a larger party 

 than the first time awaiting me on the spot. 

 They came running to meet me, but there 

 was no burst of triumph, no shout of joy. 

 I suspected at once that things were going 

 badly; and my suspicions were but too well- 

 founded. Many times, after coming out 

 of school, they had hunted for what I had 



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