306 NATURE’S CRAFTSMEN 
Forthwith, the mantis was gently deposited 
in a clump of salvia, just outside the porch, and 
the young folks mounted guard. They had not 
long to wait for real developments. Almost 
on the instant a fuzzy caterpillar crawled 
toward the mantis, and up came the praying 
arms. 
“You big booby!” ejaculated Max disgust¬ 
edly, “ afraid of a harmless, creeping thing like 
that! You could sweep it off the bush with one 
stroke of your pious hands! Atta boy, now, sic 
’em!” 
But the mantis was not to be heartened. He 
remained utterly motionless, with pious hands 
upraised, and the caterpillar came sedately on 
until within an inch or two of the poised creature, 
when it seemed suddenly to sense his presence. 
Instantly the worm’s head came up with a start, 
and then it made a quick movement as though to 
tack and whirl about. But before it could do so, 
down came the long arms of the mantis, set¬ 
tling strongly about it. No matter how the cater¬ 
pillar wriggled and squirmed it could not escape, 
and its end was soon evident. 
“Oh-h!” Alice shuddered excitedly, “the 
creature is a fraud. He was not praying at all! 
Did you notice the terribly sharp hooks on the 
inside of his arms? Small wonder that he held 
them upraised; he could the better harpoon his 
