The Elf-Errant (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. THE TUG OF WAR. "My wings " said Rose Red slowly to himself: "and a nice position it is for me." Yet he seemed not altogether displeased with his position either, and not in the least alarmed. "I shall make a fool of myself, as sure as nuts are brown " he calmly prophesied to the Foxglove bell, as he walked to where the spear was lying; took it up, and weighed it in his hand. His fingers tightened round it, as though they were accustomed to it. He swung it steadily back and forwards once or twice, to learn its weight; took accurate aim at nothing, and made a thrust in the air. Strange to say, he did not once lose the weapon. To an impartial observer it would have seemed that the English Elf was not about to make a fool of himself D in this particular line of conduct. But he shook his head. "I hope Seed o' Valour, when he comes back to his home, may find all the honey he left in it. But I doubt that," he reflected. "What an extraordinary Elf he is Trefoil was distracting enough, but this one I don't think I more than half understand them, and that's the truth," he admitted, with a wondering candour to himself. Then a thin and distant sound struck on his ear; a far-thrilling " Bizz-z-z." "They're coming," he decided, and nodded to himself, apparently with entire satisfaction. He went and stood at the opening of the bell, the spear in one hand, the other curved to his ear, and his head bent down, listening. First came a sound from one side, then from the other. He heard them travelling, drawing nearer, crossed by other sounds that thickened and grew louder, till the air was full of humming and buzzing, and sawn asunder into a thousand little thrills in a minute, from the cutting of innumerable gauzy wings. The Bees were in the Camp. They had ent...