damage it so
that its life would be a misery to it, make myself hotter than I was,
and perhaps not get rid of the fly after all.

"Well," I cried, pettishly, "that's too bad!"

For there was a fresh buzzing. Another fly had dashed in, and the two
were playing a duet that was maddening to my overwrought senses.

"Now, what can be the use of flies?" I said, pettishly. "They are
insufferable: buzzing, teasing, and stinging, making the whole place
miserable."

I was in such an overstrung state from want of rest and excitement that
I found myself thinking all kinds of nonsense, but there was some
common-sense mixed up with it, like a few grains of oats amongst a great
deal of the rough tares in which they grew, and I began to look at the
state of affairs from the other point of view, as I watched those two
flies darting here and there in zigzag, or sailing round and round, to
every now and then encounter with a louder buzz, and dart off again.
And in spite of my vexation, I found myself studying them, and thinking
that small as they were their strength was immense. Compared to mine it
was astounding. I walked a few miles and I was weary, but here were
they apparently never tiring, darting here and there with their wings
vibrating at such an astounding rate that they were invisible.
_Whizz_--_whuzz_--_dash_!--here, there, and everywhere with
lightning-like rapidity.

"It's wonderful," I said at last, and I thought how strange it was that
I had never thought of such a thing before.

"Now I dare say," I found myself saying, "they think that we are as
great a nuisance as we think them, for putting up a rough canvas tent
like this, and catching them so that they cannot get out. Stuff! I
don't believe flies can think, or else they would be able to find the
way out again."

_Buzz_--_buzz_! _buzz_--_buzz_!

A regular heavy, regular long-drawn breathing that grew louder now after
a rustling sound, and I knew at once that it was Pomp who had turned
round, got into an uncomfortable position, and was now drawing his
breath in a way that closely resembled a snore.

"Oh, you tiresome wretch!" I muttered. "How dare you go and sleep
soundly when I am so tired out that I can't?"

At last in utter despair I rose, pulled off my loose coat so as only to
retain shirt and breeches, bathed my face in a bucket just outside, and
could not resist the temptation to sprinkle a few drops on Pomp's face
as he lay there fast asleep