ly as busy as bees, and the
region was vocal with their buzz. The ladies shrunk from the well
armed but laborious crowd which surrounded them, going forth light or
returning laden to their homes; but the farmer assured them that the
busy multitude were perfectly tame, and as harmless as sheep, unless
maliciously disturbed.

Though this was but one of several colonies, the hives were too
numerous to be easily counted. They were all cylindrical in shape,
being made of the bark of the cork-tree, which is an excellent
non-conductor of heat, and were each covered with an inverted pan of
earthenware, the edge of which overhung the hive like a cornice. Each
hive was fastened together with pegs of hard wood, so that it could be
easily taken to pieces, and the joints were stopped with peat.

Full of the economy of the industrious tribes, whose habits he had
studied so profitably, the farmer talked long and well on the
subject. From him they learned that the bees would range a league and
more from the hive, if they could not gather honey nearer home. That
he gathered two harvests a year, spring and autumn each yielding one,
while the cold winter and the parched and blossomless summer equally
suspended the profitable labor of his winged workmen. He pointed out
the plants whose blossoms were preferred by the bees, and professed to
be able to distinguish the honey gathered in each month, varying as it
did in qualities according to the succession of flowers which bloomed
through the seasons, and he gave a preference to the product of the
rosemary over all other plants.

Lady Mabel was delighted with the method and the scale of this branch
of rural industry. "We have Moors enough in Scotland. Indeed, I wish
so much of them had not fallen to papa's lot. But when I go home, I
will endeavor to turn these wastes to better account, and rival our
friend here, by establishing a bee farm on a grand scale."

"You must not forget to carry the rosemary and other choice plants
with you," said Mrs. Shortridge, "and some beams of the Portuguese
sun, to secure two seasons of flowers in the year."

While she was yet speaking, a snake glided slowly across her
path. Starting back in terror, she uttered a little scream, and begged
L'Isle to kill it without delay.

"How shall I kill it," he said, laughing at her alarm. "Shall I bruise
the serpent's head with my heel, or shall I draw my sword on a
reptile?"

"In any way you please, so you do kill