bitterly disappointed, though Frank imagined he was
assuming this to tantalize Jerry.

"Talk to me about your artistic temperament! What d'ye call that? Me
crawling out of that old bee tree make a beautiful picture! Yes, I guess
it might, for the rest of you, but I'm satisfied to let the episode die a
natural death. But wait till we fill up our spare pots and pans with that
delicious honey! Um! um!" And Jerry smacked his lips as he contemplated
the feast in store.

They spent the night quietly enough. Nothing occurred to bother them,
save the one annoyance they experienced from sandflies. The tiny
creatures attacked them as soon as the breeze died out, and for an hour
or two proved irritating in the extreme.

Bluff executed a war dance as he slapped at his invisible persecutors,
and wondered if he were going into a fever, his face and neck and arms
burned so. Luckily, a night breeze coming up, drove the horde of tiny
insects away, but for several days the boys were rubbing and scratching
at the irritated skin.

"'Skeeters ain't in it with the little pests!" vowed Jerry, and the whole
party seemed to be of the same opinion.

After an early breakfast they made preparations looking to a raid on the
rich stores of the bee tree. An old piece of netting was made into nets,
so as to cover their faces, while gloves protected their hands fairly
well.

Jerry took them ashore, all but Bluff, who elected to stay by the boat.
The others jeered him, and declared that he was afraid of stings; but
Bluff was not to be taunted into going.

Joe, who had been up a bee tree before, offered to ascend, and do the
work. So the balance of the party were only too glad of the chance to
escape that duty.

The hive was in a big limb that jutted out just above where Jerry had
crashed through a rotten place marking the spot where another limb had
broken off long years before.

"It looks easy. I reckon I can chop her some, and she'll drop of her own
weight," called the boy.

He began to use the small camp ax with telling effect. After half an hour
of this there was an ominous crack.

"Look sharp, down there! She's a-comin'!" called Joe.

Hardly had he spoken than the limb came down with a roar. Instantly
the air was filled with a swarm of thousands of dazed bees. The limb
had split open from the concussion, and a wonderful store of honey was
displayed to view. Jerry was wild with delight.

"Gallons and gallons of the lovely stuff!" he