50 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



of wood-swallows whirl and circle along the flanks of the 

 circling smoke, taking flying insects on the wing, or deftly 

 pick " thin, high-elbowed creatures," scuttling up tree-trunks 

 out of the way of the flames. Those were the marauders 

 who confounded anticipations of a comfortable livelihood 

 in the decent calling of an apiarist. They devoured bees 

 by the hundred every day. Every hive paid dreadful 

 toll to them, for they found food so plentiful, and with so 

 little exertion, that they made the vicinity of the hives a 

 permanent abiding place. For a brief season I found 

 myself confronted by a problem. I had to apply my own 

 favourite theories and arguments to myself and weigh 

 against them practical advantages. Honey was plentiful, 

 and, given that the bees were protected against voracious 

 enemies, might have been stored in marketable quantities. 

 But was I not bound by honour as well as sentiment to 

 protect the birds? Was not my coming hither due to a 

 certain extent, to a wish for the preservation of bird-life ? 

 Was there not in my presence an implied warranty to that 

 effect ? Had not the island since my occupancy become a 

 sanctuary, a city of refuge, a safe abiding place, a kingdom 

 where all the birds of the air — save tyrants and cannibals — 

 were welcomed with gladness and enthusiasm? Had I 

 not warned others of the dreadful consequences that would 

 befall any disturbance of the sacred air by so much as the 

 unauthorised report of a gun ? How then was I to deal out 

 justice to the defenceless bees that I had hurried hither, 

 willy-nilly, without consideration of their likes and dislikes, 

 and their multitudinous descendants? How protect my 

 investment in apiarist plant? How maintain the stock of 

 honey, white, golden and tawny brown, excellent, wholesome, 

 delicious food, and still preserve the natural rights, the 

 privileges of the birds ? Had not the birds the right of 

 prior occupancy and other legitimate claims, in addition to 

 sentimental demands upon my conscience ? Not only, too, 

 were the birds beautiful to look upon and of engaging 

 habits ; not only had they become companionable and trust- 

 ful ; not only were they among the primeval features of 



