312 
NATURE’S CRAFTSMEN 
box, poured in some three or four limp, lifeless- 
looking bumblebees which had been imprisoned 
in the bottle. 
“ Whoopee, Uncle John,” the boy cried 
delightedly. “ Where’d-yu get ’em? ” 
“ Slipped in and chloroformed the lot, just like 
any common house thug,” was the grinning reply. 
“ Found the nest yesterday in a crevice behind 
the door in the tool shed. It originally belonged 
to Madam Gray Mouse.” 
“And how soon will they 4 come out of it ’? ” 
demanded Tommy, eager-eyed. 
“ An hour or two. There is plenty of food in 
the box. We will keep them shut in for a few 
days, until they get used to their new quarters,” 
and Uncle John plugged up the hole in the box 
with the cork from the bottle. 
“ What! Do you mean that is a bumblebees’ 
nest?” ejaculated Alice, horrified. “Why, we 
shall all be in danger of our lives every time we 
step outside! Take them away, Uncle John, do, 
please! I’m horribly afraid of bumblebees. 
Don’t you remember how terribly I got stung 
once, when that wretched little Beals boy was go¬ 
ing to treat his sister and me to bumblebee 
honey? ” 
“ That was different,” assured Uncle John, 
soberly enough, though his eyes twinkled merrily 
at the recollection of that bygone episode, which 
