"
"He seems to have resembled you in more things than in
appearance," said the Baroness.
"Don't interrupt at a critical point in the story," said Clovis.
"As soon as he had been carefully adjusted in the prescribed
position over the hives, and almost before the gaolers had time to
retire to a safe distance, Vespaluus gave a lusty and well-aimed
kick, which sent all three hives toppling one over another. The
next moment he was wrapped from head to foot in bees; each
individual insect nursed the dreadful and humiliating knowledge
that in this supreme hour of catastrophe it could not sting, but
each felt that it ought to pretend to. Vespaluus squealed and
wriggled with laughter, for he was being tickled nearly to death,
and now and again he gave a furious kick and used a bad word as
one of the few bees that had escaped disarmament got its protest
home. But the spectators saw with amazement that he showed no
signs of approaching death agony, and as the bees dropped wearily
away in clusters from his body his flesh was seen to be as white
and smooth as before the ordeal, with a shiny glaze from the
honey-smear of innumerable bee-feet, and here and there a small
red spot where one of the rare stings had left its mark.
Pages:
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156