Ernest then told him Caribs subdue the largest birds by making them inhale tobacco smoke Fritz laughed ; but Ernest brought pipe and some tobacco he had found ship, and began to smoke gravely under the branch where the bird was perched soon calm, and continuing to smoke it became quite motionless Fritz then easily replaced the bandage, and thanked his brother good service

The next morning we set out early to our young plantation of fruit-trees, to fix props to support the weaker plants We loaded the cart thick bamboo canes tools, and harnessed the cow , leaving the buffalo stable, as I wished the wound nostrils perfectly healed before I put him to any hard work I left Francis mother, our dinner, begging them not to forget the maccaroni

We began entrance avenue to Falcon's Nest, where all the trees were much bent wind We raised them gently by crowbar; hole earth, one sons placed the bamboo props, driving them firmly down with mallet, and we proceeded to another, while Ernest and Jack tied the trees with long, tough, pliant plant, which I suspected was species of llana were working, Fritz inquired if these fruit-trees were wild

"A pretty question ! " cried Jack " that trees are tamed like eagles or buffaloes ? You perhaps could teach them to bow politely, gather the fruit ! "

"You fancy wit," said I, "but you speak like dunce make trees bow at our pleasure; but make tree, which by nature bears sour and uneatable fruit, produce sweet and wholesome effected by grafting into wild tree small branch, or even bud, sort you wish show you this method practically at some future time, for means procure all sorts of fruit; only remember, that only graft tree with same natural family; thus, graft an apple on cherry-tree, belongs apple tribe, other plum tribe "

"Do the origin of all these European fruits ? " asked the inquiring Ernest

"All our shell fruits," answered I, "such nut, the almond, chesnut, are natives East; the peach, of Persia; the orange and apricot, of Armenia; the cherry, unknown in Europe sixty years before Christ, was brought proconsul Lucullus southern shores Euxine; the olives come from Palestine The first olive-trees were planted on Mount Olympus, and from thence were spread rest of Europe; the fig is from Lydia; the plums, your favourite fruit, exception of some natural sorts natives forests, are from Syria, town of Damascus its name to one sort, the Damascene_, or Damson The pear is fruit of Greece; the ancients called it the fruit of Peloponnesus; the mulberry is from Asia; quince island of Crete "

Our work progressed talked thus, and we had soon propped all our valuable plants now noon, and we returned to Falcon's Nest very hungry, and found an excellent dinner prepared, of smoked beef, tender bud cabbage-palm, the most delicious of vegetables

After dinner, we began to discuss plan I had long had in my head; but the execution of it presented many difficulties , to substitute firm and solid staircase ladder of ropes, source of continual fear to my wife true, that we only had to ascend it to bed; but bad weather might compel us to remain apartment; then have frequently to ascend and descend, ladder was very unsafe But the immense height tree, impossibility of procuring beams to sustain staircase round it, threw me into despair However, looking monstrous trunk tree, , succeed outside, could we not contrive to mount within ?

" not said swarm of bees trunk tree ? " I inquired wife "Yes," said little Francis, "they stung my face dreadfully the other day, when ladder pushing stick hole they came out of, how deep "

"Now, then," cried I, " through my difficulties find out how far the tree is hollow; increase the size tunnel, and already planned the sort of staircase construct " I had hardly spoken, boys leaped like squirrels, some arched roots, some steps ladder, and began to strike with sticks and mallets to sound the tree This rash proceeding had nearly been fatal to Jack, who, having placed himself just opening, and striking violently, the whole swarm, alarmed at an attack, which probably shook their palace of wax, issued forth, and revenged themselves amply on all the assailants Nothing was heard but cries and stamping of feet My wife hastened the stings with moist earth, which rather relieved them; but some hours could open their eyes They begged me them the honey from their foes, and I prepared hive, which I had long thought of--a large gourd, which I placed on board nailed upon branch tree, and covered with straw to shelter it sun and wind But now bedtime, and we deferred our attack fortress till

* * * * *

CHAPTER XXVI

An hour before day, I waked my sons to assist me in removing the bees new abode I had prepared I commenced by plastering up the entrance present dwelling with clay, leaving only room to admit the bowl pipe necessary, because I had neither masks nor gloves, regular bee-takers have I then began to smoke briskly, to stupify the bees At first we heard great buzzing hollow, like the sound of distant storm: the murmur ceased by degrees, and profound stillness succeeded, and I withdrew my pipe without single bee appearing Fritz and I then, with chisel and small axe, made an opening about three feet square, below the bees' entrance Before we detached this, I repeated the fumigation, lest the noise fresh air should awake the bees; but no fear thing,--they were quite stupified We removed the wood, and opening beheld, with wonder and admiration, the work insect nation such store of wax and honey, that we feared we have vessels to contain it The interior tree was filled honeycombs; I cut them carefully, and placed them gourds the boys brought me I had made little space, I placed the upper comb, the bees were hanging in clusters, new hive, and put it plank prepared ; I then descended rest honeycomb, and filled cask with it, which I had previously washed stream; this we covered with sailcloth and planks, lest the bees, attracted smell, should come to claim their own We left out some comb for treat at dinner, and my wife carefully put rest

the bees returning old abode, we placed some burning tobacco hollow, the smell and fumes drove them tree, wished to enter; and, finally, they settled new hive, where the queen bee, doubtless, had fixed herself

We now began our work; we emptied the cask of honey into large boiler, except little reserved for daily use; we added little water, placed the boiler on slow fire, and reduced it to liquid mass; strained through bag cask, and left standing all night to cool The next morning the wax had risen top, and formed hard and solid cake, which we easily removed; and beneath most pure and delicious honey The barrel was then carefully closed, and placed in cool place We now proceeded to examine the interior tree long pole, and tried the height window I had made; and tied stone to string to sound the depth To my surprise, the pole penetrated without resistance very branches where our dwelling was, stone went roots entirely hollow, and easily fix winding staircase wide tunnel It would seem, huge tree, like the willow country, is nourished bark, for flourishing in luxuriant beauty