Only after a closer inspection was it apparent
to the lay eye that this seeming fluid was in reality composed of
mass upon mass of bees. They shoved and writhed and muttered and
jostled, for all the world like a collection of home-seeking City
men trying to secure standing room on the Underground at half-past
five in the afternoon.
Nutty, making this discovery, had emitted one wild yell, dropped
the frame, and started at full speed for the house, his retreat
expedited by repeated stings from the nervous bees. Bill, more
prudent, remained absolutely motionless. He eyed the seething
frame with interest, but without apparent panic.
'I want you to help me here, Mr Chalmers. You have stronger wrists
than I have. I will tell you what to do. Hold the frame tightly.'
'I've got it.'
'Jerk it down as sharply as you can to within a few inches of the
door, and then jerk it up again. You see, that shakes them off.'
'It would me,' agreed Bill, cordially, 'if I were a bee.'
Elizabeth had the feeling that she had played her ace of trumps
and by some miracle lost the trick. If this grisly operation did
not daunt the man, nothing, not even the transferring of honey,
would. She watched him as he raised the frame and jerked it down
with a strong swiftness which her less powerful wrists had never
been able to achieve.
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