is arm, still following, until he was pointing straight up the
hill. "As sure as my name is Ike Ward that bee flew up the hill,
and just as sure its home is there, too."

Up the hill he went, looking more carefully at every tree, until
the last tree below the rock had been reached. I was on the upper
side of this tree and was almost sure that it must be in this one.
The old hunter was on the lower side, gazing intently up the hill
toward the rock. For some time he stood thus, then said, "You had
better look behind you if you want to find the yaller bee." On
turning round I saw a steady stream of bees going in and coming out
from the very base of the rock. The mystery was a mystery no
longer. They had baffled all the bee hunters in the community for
three years, but at last they gave up the secret of their hidden
home to Ike Ward.

Taking a piece of paper and writing thereon these words: "This bee
was found by Ike Ward and pard; if any person find it please don't
mislest it." He laid the paper above the entrance of the bees, and,
laying a stone on it to keep it in place, we ended this our first
bee-hunt together. This was only one of the many delightful trips
which I took with the hunter, only one of the many valuable lessons
received from him on this fascinating pastime. He has long since
passed away, but the book of nature was open to him at all times
and with a spirit that had no taint of selfishness in it, was
always ready to impart knowledge to others.

CHAPTER II.

EARLY SPRING HUNTING.

Bees are very fond of salt in the early spring, and, in fact, in
all parts of the season when brood rearing is in progress. Now we
will start out some fine spring morning, take a hatchet or an ax
and a polk of salt, and we will go up on the side of the mountain
and chop out a little trough large enough to hold a quart or more,
then sprinkle a little water, scented with oil of anise or
bergamont, on the outside of this trough, then put a few corncobs
and a handful of salt in the trough and place the trough in the
fork of a small tree out of the way of any stock that may be
pasturing in the woods. Our work is now done at this place. We can
go on and put out several of these baits along the mountain. The
first rain that comes will fill the trough, dissolve the salt,
which will soak into the corncobs, and the scent which we placed on
the outside of the trough will entice any bees that may be flying.
After this we go home an