October, 1918 
FOREST AND STREAM 
611 
Arthur lighted his smudge torch, consist¬ 
ing of a piece of old quilt, rolled into a 
tight spill, which did not blaze, but smol¬ 
dered, sending up a rather feeble curl of 
pungent smoke. We approached the big 
limb containing the hive, and saw that it 
would have to be split open in order to 
reach the honey. The bees were pouring 
out of the long oval entrance, and were 
already beginning to whir angrily around 
our ears. Authorities tell us that a colony 
of bees consists of from 10,000 to 50,'000 
members. Well, this was one of the 50,000 
type. I have never seen so many bees in 
a swarm, nor such vicious ones. 
W E were soon busily engaged in 
brushing off the enraged workers, 
for they landed on every part of 
us at once. After one sting on my hands, 
I hastily put on my gloves. Arthur, who 
had no gloves, right speedily received half 
a dozen or more barbs in hands and wrists. 
Finding our reception somewhat over- 
cordial, we retired, “for strategic reasons,” 
“to positions previously prepared.” 
Presently Arthur ventured, “I think 
they’re a little ca’mer now,” and we re¬ 
turned to the attack. First it was neces¬ 
sary to split off a section of the limb. 
Arthur struck the axe into it sidewise and 
bore down on it, and as the crack ran 
along the grain, out came a fresh army 
with the roar of a tempest. They paid no 
more attention to the pitiful little smudge 
torch than if it had been a one-candle 
power bulb. Arthur stood the storm for 
half a minute, then with a muttered, “I’ll 
have to git outer this!” he dropped every¬ 
thing and fled incontinently. 
T O make a long story brief, after the 
bees had pretty well exhausted their 
supply of stingers upon us and other 
objects, animate and inanimate, in the 
neighborhood, we returned to the attack 
again; the limb was split open, and Arthur 
filled two large buckets with comb honey; 
some of it rather dark, it is true, but just 
as acceptable to him as if lighter. Moun¬ 
tain honey varies greatly in color. If the 
bees have access to patches of clover, such 
as are often found on the tops of the 
balds in the Smokies or Balsams, the honey 
is apt to be clear and light-colored; but 
the various wild flowers of the woods turn 
it darker. 
Our trials and sufferings being over, we 
sat down at a safe distance from the storm 
center, and Arthur had what he called “a 
good bait o’ honey,” while the rest of us 
nibbled at it a bit daintily. Many a time 
have I seen mountain men, after robbing 
a tree, sit down in a circle around the 
buckets and eat chunks of the raw comb 
and honey as big as one’s fist, without 
ever a bit of bread or other simple food 
to temper its cloying sweetness. 
When we left him that evening, Arthur’s 
hands and wrists were swelled almost to 
the proportions of hams. He had received 
at least thirty stings. Nevertheless he was 
out again the next Sunday, absolutely un¬ 
dismayed, cutting and robbing a tree for a 
neighbor who was “bee-shy.” He still 
agrees with me that that swarm in the old 
chestnut tree under the bluff were, as he 
expresses it “the meanest bees he ever 
had any dealin’s with!” 
D OUBLE your duck hunting luck in rough 
weather with the right shotshells—Remington 
W UMC Smokeless “Arrow” or “Nitro Club Wet— 
> proof Steel Lined “Speed Shells," made to stay dry 
and firm as a hullet regardless how wet the pocket 
that contains them, and shoot right. 
There will he no hitch at a critical moment—no 
gun jammed with a water-soaked and swelled 
shell — no fizzled shots from mushy turnovers of 
the shell ends (crimps), or misfires from soaked primers. 
The same smooth working, high velocity and good 
pattern as always. 
Remington UMC Smokeless “Arrow and "Nitro 
Club" Wetproof Steel Lined “Speed Shells" are com¬ 
pletely proofed against wet hy a wonderful and ex¬ 
clusive process. 
You will not he able to see the wetproof improvement, 
but you will know it is there when you put your shells 
to the test of shooting under conditions which only 
Wetproof shells can stand. 
Sold hy Sporting Goods Dealers 
in Your Community ^__ 
THE REMINGTON 
ARMS UNION 
METALLIC 
CARTRIDGE CO. 
ms?;®. 
Largest Manufacturers of 
Firearms and Ammunition 
in the W’o rid 
Wool wort h Building 
New York City 
“NESSMUK” HUNTING KNIFE 
WITH LEATHER SHEATH 
Together with Full Year s Subscription to 
Forest and Stream 
$ 2.00 
Supply Limited No Extra Charge for Canadian Orders 
