e getting away from here."

The spider cast a look at Bobbie full of hate and venom; but
glancing up at her web she reconsidered, and turned away slowly,
furious, scolding and growling under her breath. Fangs and
stings were of no avail. They wouldn't even leave a mark on
armor such as Bobbie wore. With violent denunciations against
the injustice in the world, the spider hid herself away inside a
withered leaf, from which she could spy out and watch over her
web.

Meanwhile Bobbie finished the unwrapping of Maya. He tore the
network and released her legs and wings. The rest she could do
herself. She preened herself happily. But she had to go slow,
because she was still weak from fright.

"You must forget what you have been through," said Bobbie. "Then
you'll stop trembling. Now see if you can fly. Try."

Maya lifted herself with a little buzz. Her wings worked
splendidly, and to her intense joy she felt that no part of her
body had been injured. She flew slowly up to the jasmine
flowers, drank avidly of their abundant scented honey-juice, and
returned to Bobbie, who had left the blackberry vines and was
sitting in the grass.

"I thank you with my whole heart and soul," said Maya, deeply
moved and happy in her regained freedom.

"Thanks are in place," observed Bobbie. "But that's the way I
always am--always doing something for other people. Now fly
away. I'd advise you to lay your head on your pillow early
to-night. Have you far to go?"

"No," said Maya. "Only a short way. I live at the edge of the
beech-woods. Good-by, Bobbie, I'll never forget you, never,
never, so long as I live. Good-by."

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER VIII

THE BUG AND THE BUTTERFLY

Her adventure with the spider gave Maya something to think
about. She made up her mind to be more cautious in the future,
not to rush into things so recklessly. Cassandra's prudent
warnings about the greatest dangers that threaten the bees, were
enough to give one pause; and there were all sorts of other
possibilities, and the world was such a big place--oh, there
was a good deal to make a little bee stop and think.

It was in the evening particularly, when twilight fell and the
little bee was all by herself, that one consideration after
another stirred her mind. But the next morning, if the sun
shone, she usually forgot half the things that had bothered her
the night before, and allowed her eagerness for experiences to
dr