Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/495

AN ANXIOUS VOYAGE. 467 favourite pursuit of insect-huntïng. As he was rummaging in the long grass, he put up a bird which flew but a veiy short distance. Ben^dict recognizcd it hy its peculiar note, and, secing Dick take his gun to aim at ït, ex* claimed, — " Don't fire, don't fire ! that bird will bs worth nothing for food among five of us." " It will be dinner cnough for Jack," saîd Dick, who, finding that the bird did not seem in a hurry to make its cscapc, delayed his shot for a moment, without intending to be divcrted from his purpose of securing it. " You mustn't fire," insistcd Bencdict, " it is an indicator ; it will show you whcre there are !ots of honey." Awarc that a few pounds of honey would rcally be of more value than a little bird, Dick lowercd his gun, and in Company wîth the entomologist set ofT to follow the indicator, which seemed, by alternatcly flying and stopplng, to be inviting them to come on, and thcy had but a Httle way to go beforc they observcd several swaims of bées buzzing around some old stems hidden amongst the cuphorbias. Notwithstanding Benedict's remonstrances against depriving the bées of the fruits of their îndustry, Dick instantly set to work, and without remorse suffocated them by burning dry grass underneath. Having secured a good amount of honey, he left the comb to the indicator 35 its share of the booty, and went back with his companion to fhe canoë. The honey was acceptable, but it did not do much to alleviate the cravings of hunger, Next day it happened that they had just stopped for their accustomcd rest, when they observed that an enormous swarm of grasshoppers had settled at the mouth of a creek close by. Two or threc dcep they covered the soil, myriads and myriads oi them adhering to cvery shrub. " The natives eat those grasshoppers," said Benedîct, " and like them too." The remark produced an instant effect; ail hands were busied in collecting them, and a lai^e supply was qutckly gathcred : the canoë might hâve been filled ten times ovet. Il h 2