A Beast of Prey 



57 



or nest, under shelter of a rose-leaf, at a few 

 inches' distance from the centre of the snare ; 

 and in this quiet home it was her habit to rest 

 unseen, under cover of the shady leaf, until prey 

 came within measur- 

 able distance of her 

 sphere of practical 

 politics. But she 

 kept up communi- 

 cations with the seat 

 of war. From the 

 centre of the snare 

 to the nest she liad 

 stretched a stout, 

 thick line, alon^ which 

 she could run eas- 

 ily on the slightest 

 indication of a pro- 

 spective victim 

 loominj^ up in the 

 background. More- 

 over, this cable or 

 thread seemed to be 

 connected by its dif- 

 ferent strands with 

 various parts of the 

 snare ; at any rate, it 

 acted as a telegraphic 

 communicator between the home, strictly so called, 

 and the place of business. For Rosalind used 

 always to recline at her ease with one hand-like 

 claw placed steadily on the line of commuiiica- 



NO. 5. — Visnn THRKADS, WITH 

 SITCKY UKADS ; KOOl AND CIAWS 

 OK SI'IDK.R ; SI'IDKR's face, with 

 JAWs AM) roisON-IANCS. 



