Caught in a Cobweb. 125 



" To my generosity ! " interrupted the spider. 

 " Ho ! Ho ! That's good, that is ! Why, I have 

 never, in all my life, granted an appeal, or a favor, 

 and I never mean to. It is true," he continued, 

 " that I told you my plan, as a favor, but I only did 

 so in order to punish you for the ridiculous airs you 

 gave yourself at first. The punishment has already 

 begun, I see. I knew it would 1 And you begged 

 me to tell you as a favor ! That's good, that is ! 

 Ho! Ho!" 



The malicious cruelty with which he spoke was 

 enough to freeze her blood ; but even at that 

 moment poor little Buz did not lose her pluck. 



" He shall not triumph over me, " she thought, 

 " more than I can possibly help. I will not say 

 another word, nor attempt to move him to pity. 

 Let the worst come to the worst, I can but die ! 

 And if he ventures near me before I am quite gone, 

 let him look out for himself! " 



So she remained perfectly still ; and the spider 

 sat motionless at the mouth of his den, watching. 



