A MANUFACTURER 
69 
here,” and he went nearer, and pointed with his 
stick, “ is the egg pouch of the commensal. My 
lady does not suspend her egg-sac. Her babies 
spend the winter in their cradle; hence it must be 
placed where there is ample protection from the 
elements. She-” 
“ Ha! ” interrupted Tommy gleefully. “ She 
lets the commensals know their place, doesn’t she? 
Did you notice how fiercely she gestured toward 
that one which started up the web from those 
flags there at the left corner? Ah, the coward, 
look at him skedaddle! ” 
“ There you go judging from appearances 
again, Tommy,” his uncle admonished, laugh¬ 
ingly. “ I didn’t notice, but I have my suspi¬ 
cions. Wait a minute; he will be back. . . . 
There! ” A small spider, only about one-fifth as 
large as my lady, but banded in faint white and 
yellowish streaks, appeared at the moment and 
cautiously began to run out toward the keeper of 
the net; he was followed by another and yet an¬ 
other of the same general garb and air of timid¬ 
ity. But the advancing line did not get very far. 
No doubt my lady recognized their tread, for she 
turned with an imperious fling which very plainly 
said “ Get! ” And the poor fellows made haste 
to obey. 
“ Slaves, are they? ” queried Alice. “ She 
seems exceedingly high-mighty.” 
