Discontented Whispers. 99 



"But I shall die! I shall die; I know I shall!" 

 cried the drone piteously. 



" Very likely ; but that isn't our business, so good- 

 by. We really can't stand here arguing with you all 

 day." 



" Please let me in again ; do let me in," pleaded 

 the drone. " I would creep away into a corner, and 

 do nobody any harm." 



" Oh, yes, you would ; for, without being of any 

 use, you would take up a certain amount of room, 

 and eat a certain amount of honey, and we have 

 none of either to spare. Now go." 



But the drone seemed too much overcome to 

 move, and lay helplessly down, close to the edge of 

 the footboard. 



Buz and the other bees pushed him over, and, 

 hardly making an effort to fly, he fell to the ground 

 and remained there. 



At this time the scene was most exciting: there 

 were parties of bees in every direction. Some were 

 carrying the dead bodies of drones who had made so 

 much resistance, that, losing patience with them, 

 their captors had stung them to death. Others 

 dragged along unresisting victims ; and others again 

 were engaged with obstinate drones, who fought and 

 tumbled the whole way. Some of the drones took 



