A MASTERLY BRIGAND 171 
stant, scurrying nimbly around until they find 
means to regain their position. Tiny as they are, 
they are evidently brimming over with energy. 
Where do they get it? Fabre pondered this 
question well, and at last he became convinced 
that the little spiderlings live upon sunshine. At 
first thought, this seems a very surprising thing. 
But, says the old naturalist, ‘ Why not live on 
sun, seeing that, after all, we find nothing but 
sun in the fruits which we eat? 5 Certainly we 
know that the sun is the giver of all energy, and 
we have seen too many miracles in the insect 
world to scoff at the suggestion that by some All¬ 
wise Power the spiderlings may have been pro¬ 
visioned so that they can occasionally lunch liber¬ 
ally from sunshine.” 
“ I see no reason at all to doubt it,” said Auntie 
slowly, as her brother looked about apparently 
waiting for remarks. “And the fact is sugges¬ 
tive : Chemists have long had a dream of supply¬ 
ing food products from the laboratory to take the 
place of those grown on the farm. Why 
shouldn’t physical science go a step farther, and 
by grasping a hint from the JLycosa spiderlings, 
give us energy-producing foods direct from the 
prime fountain of energy? ” 
“ I’m sure I wish it could be done,” sighed 
Mother, who had for some time been keeping an 
eye on the relentless hands of the clock, creeping 
