LITTLE LANCE-BEARERS 313 
had been funny enough to all but the immediate 
participants. “ You were carrying war into the 
enemies’ quarters—pillaging their homes. Can 
you blame them for springing to the defense? 
Bumblebees are sworn to knighthood on reaching 
their majority, and are loyal to the heart’s core. 
Every bumblebee in the colony belongs to the 
standing army, and is provided with a lance that 
is staunch and true. Because the countless gener¬ 
ations of boys, mice, and bears have been what 
they are, bumblebees have been forced to take up 
fighting as a second nature. In times of dire 
need the whole colony, from the royal household 
down to the busy little nurses and the least mem¬ 
ber of the scullery force, volunteers for war, and 
all who have ever contested with them know how 
valiant they are. All, too, will testify that bum¬ 
blebees themselves never start a fight. If you 
don’t bother them, they will not bother you. 
Moreover, once you get interested in the busy 
routine of their daily affairs, you will not only 
forget your fear of them, but pick up many use¬ 
ful little sidelights which will be helpful in meet¬ 
ing the tasks Life sets for you. This last is the 
reason I left my nice comfortable bed an hour 
early this morning to fashion this box, and 
trap the bumblebee queen and her faithful 
retinue! ” 
“ Show us their spear, can’t you, Uncle John, 
