The Bee-Hunters. 



some yellow substance and heap it into the cavity he had 

 made. Then he struck a match, lighted the stuff, and 

 came sliding swiftly to earth again. We all drew off and 

 waited. 



" That," explained the bee-master, as he leaned on his 

 woodman's axe out of breath ; " is cotton-waste, soaked 

 in creosote, and then smothered in powdered brimstone. 

 See ! it is burning famously. The fumes will soon fill 

 the hollow of the tree and settle the whole company. Then 

 we shall cut away enough of the rotten wood above to get 

 all the best of the combs out ; there are eighty pounds of 

 good honey up there, or I'm no bee-man. And then it's 

 back to the clover-field for more guide-bees, and away on 

 a new scent." 



65 



