now and then on a bush, and looking
back to see if I was still following, all the time keeping up an
incessant twitter. Though I had no idea at the time of its object, I
continued following it. At length I saw a short distance ahead the huge
trunk of a fallen tree. The bird appeared still more excited; and when
I happened to turn aside, apparently to take an opposite direction, it
came flying back, and twittering louder than before, trying, I was sure,
to make me turn in the direction of the tree. I accordingly did so,
when, satisfied, the bird went on as before. It now hovered for a
moment over a part of the trunk at which it pointed with its bill, and
it then turned and pitched on the top of a decayed branch which rose in
the air out of the trunk, and fluttered its wings and twittered still
more violently than ever. There it sat while I examined the trunk. I
was not long in discovering a hollow surrounded by wax, and the idea at
once occurred to me that this was a bees' nest, and that the bird was
the honey-bird of which I had heard. On a further examination I was
convinced that I was right. I therefore collected a number of dried
leaves and twigs, in order to light a fire, and with the smoke to drive
the bees from their habitation. I also manufactured some torches, which
might assist me in the operation, and would, I hoped, enable me to
defend myself should the bees take to flight and attack me. As soon as
I had got everything ready, I lighted a fire under the nest, and taking
a torch, waved it about in front of it. No bees came out, and I began
to fancy that the nest must be empty. After a time, however, on looking
in, I found that the effect of the smoke had been to stupify the bees.
I therefore, without fear, began to cut out the nest. It consisted of
cells of wax full of honey. The difficulty was to carry it. However,
as the wax was tolerably hard, I tied it up in a large handkerchief I
fortunately had in my pocket, in which I hoped at all events to be able
to carry home a good quantity of honey for poor Natty, trusting that it
would be beneficial to his health. While employed in putting it up, I
observed the honey-bird fluttering about in a state of great agitation
close to me. "Oh, I almost forgot you," I said, turning to the bird.
"You deserve some honey;" and accordingly, taking some from the nest, I
placed it on the trunk of the fallen tree. Instantly the bird dashed
down, and began eating i