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164 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON |
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humming was heard in the hollow of the tree, and a noise like a gathering tempest, but it died away by degrees. When all was calm I withdrew my pipe. We then began, with a chisel and a small axe, to cut out of the tree, under the bees' hole of entrance, a piece three feet square. This I took out from the trunk like a window, and we saw such a stock of wax and honey, that we were astonished. The whole of the tree was lined with fine honeycombs. I cut them off with care, and put them in the gourds which the boys handed to me.
When I had somewhat cleared the cavity, I put the upper combs, in which the bees had assembled in clusters and swarms, into the gourd which was to serve as a hive. All this time the bees remained quite motionless and stupefied. Then I came down, bringing with me the rest of the honeycombs, with which I filled a small cask, which had been previously well washed in the stream.
Having placed the gourds like hives on a plank, I fumigated the inside of the tree thoroughly with tobacco, to prevent the bees returning. This answered perfectly. At first, when they recovered from their stupor, they flew back to the tree, but |
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