The Young Queens 
noises are hushed, and high over all there 
reigns the silence of the stars, the apiarist 
who nears these marvellous cities and 
stands, questioning, at their entrance, 
recognises and understands the dialogue 
that is passing between the wandering 
queen and the virgins in prison. 
[72 ] 
To the young princesses, however, this 
prolonged reclusion is of material benefit ; 
for when they at last are freed they have 
grown mature and vigorous, and are able 
to fly. But during this period of waiting 
the strength of the first queen has also 
increased, and is sufficient now to enable 
her to face the perils of the voyage. The 
time has arrived, therefore, for the depar- 
ture of the second swarm, or “cast,” with 
the first-born of the queens at its head. 
No sooner has she gone than the workers 
left in the hive will set one of the prisoners 
261 
