t in the house!) "She's had a bad fright,
poor thing!" the trumpeter added.

Buster Bumblebee suddenly grew much excited. And he climbed up on a table
and shouted for everybody to be quiet.

"I don't believe you know about me!" he cried, as soon as the house was
still. "The Robber Fly attacked me. But _I_ don't need to go to bed. I'm
not the least bit nervous."

Several of the family near him began to titter.

And the Queen herself stepped forward and commanded Buster to hop down
from the table at once.

He obeyed promptly. But he was quite puzzled. No one seemed to believe
what he said. And it was a long time before he learned what had actually
happened. At last a spiteful worker informed him that he had never been
in the clutches of the Robber Fly at all. Peevish Peggy and some of her
companions had played a trick on Buster--because of his boasting. She had
seized him when he wasn't looking. And he had screamed so loud that the
Robber Fly--who happened to be near--had heard him.

Then the Robber Fly had rushed up and seized Peevish Peggy, who had
promptly let go of Buster Bumblebee.

The worker who told these things to Buster Bumblebee actually laughed in
his face. And Buster was so surprised--and so crestfallen--that he
couldn't say a word for a long time.

And never again did Buster mention the Robber Fly's name.

XI

THE DRONE

Yes! Buster Bumblebee was a drone. He never gathered any nectar from the
flowers and brought it home to help swell the family store of honey. He
let the workers of the household do that. And since they never
complained, but seemed to enjoy their drudgery, Buster saw no reason why
he should interfere with the honey-making in any way.

He was content to live a life of ease and pleasure. And never having to
bestir himself--never having to hurry or worry--he quickly grew into a
somewhat clumsy and blundering young gentleman. And what was still worse,
this handsome young idler soon gained the name of being none too
keen-witted. _Good-natured, but a bit stupid_--that was what the field
and forest folk called Buster Bumblebee.

But bless you! _He_ never bothered his head with what people said. When
anybody called him a drone he would only laugh. And when some busybody
asked him for pity's sake why didn't he go to work, he would merely grin
and reply that he was a queen's son and that queens' sons never did
anything except eat a plenty and have a good time.

Well, that must