1 24 Buz. 



" My plan is," said the spider, speaking very slowly 

 and deliberately, " to do nothing yet myself, and to 

 leave you to do what you can. It will answer very 

 well, because you will soon get too weak for mischief, 

 and then I shall kill you and suck you dry, and tear 

 you limb from limb. That's my plan." 



" Pray, how do you know," said Buz, " that I 

 shall get weak sooner than you ? " 



"How foolishly yow talk !" replied the spider. 

 " Why, you are nearly exhausted, and half choked 

 already ; you are in a terrible fright, and well you 

 may be, for you have nothing to look forward to 

 but death. I am quite comfortable, even enjoying 

 myself, watching you ; and I look forward to dinner: 

 it makes a good deal of difference." 



Buz felt that this was only too true, and her heart 

 began to fail her, brave as she was. 



" Besides," continued the spider, " I dined well 

 yesterday on a fat fly, whose wings you can see 

 here at the mouth of my den, as you call it ; so I 

 can easily wait for you. I shall not have to wait 

 very long." 



Buz could not help trembling at these cruel words, 

 and after a pause, she said, in a weaker voice, " I 

 suppose it would be in vain to appeal to your 

 generosity — to your " 



