The Life of the Bee 
natural disease, and by infinite subdivision 
of the crime, to render it almost anonymous. 
They will therefore, to use the pictur- 
esque expression of the apiarist, “ball” the 
queenly intruder; in other words, they will 
entirely surround her with their innumer- 
able, interlaced bodies. They will thus form 
a sort of living prison wherein the captive is 
unable to move; and in this prison they will 
keep her for twenty-four hours, if need be, 
till the victim die of suffocation or hunger. 
But if, at this moment, the legitimate 
queen draw near, and, scenting a rival, ap- 
pear disposed to attack her, the living walls 
of the prison will at once fly open: and 
the bees, forming a circle around the two 
enemies, will eagerly watch the strange duel 
that will ensue, though remaining strictly 
impartial, and taking no share in it. For it 
is written that against a mother the sting 
may be drawn by a mother alone; only she 
who bears in her flanks close on two million 
lives appears to possess the right with one 
blow to inflict close on two million deaths. 
But if the combat last too long, without 
any result; if the circular weapons glide 
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