Death of Hum — Robbery — Restitution. 109 



lifted up one side of it, and inserted a small wedge 

 of wood, which gave the bees an opportunity of 

 getting away. 



Some of them, being still frightened, darted off at 

 once, and entered the hive as usual. Others took a 

 turn round, and then went back to the super, irre- 

 sistibly attracted by the honey. 



But Buz, the instant she was free, flew as straight 

 as she could and as hard as she could at the man's 

 nose, meaning to give him the full benefit of her 

 sting. What was her astonishment and indignation 

 on finding herself stopped, when close to his face, by 

 something soft and yielding, which she had not 

 noticed at first, and which she could hardly see, even 

 when close to him ! 



Again and again she flew at him — at his ears, his 

 chin, his nose — and each time she was prevented 

 from getting within stinging distance. The most 

 provoking part of it was, that the man did not take 

 the least notice of her efforts, or seem even to know 

 that she was trying to drive him away. One 

 or two other bees had joined Buz in her attack on 

 him, but, as he was quite safe behind his veil, they 

 at last left him alone, and even Buz gave it 

 up. 



By this time the greater part of the bees had left 



