Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

BEE HUNTING 363Wth bees disdain to wear armor; but I would notadvise a novice to emulate their boldness. Get abroad-brimmed nat, say a farmer's straw hat, andfasten to it a head-net of mosquito bar long enoughto come w^ell down over the shoulders. A pair oflong gloves or gauntlets is needed. Cut two sticksfive or six feet long, and bind to one end of eacha ball of cotton about as large as a hen's egg. Soakthese cotton balls in melted sulphur. Get a sharpaxe, and some pails to receive the honey; also alantern, for your burglarizing is to be done atnight. If you are not a good axeman, take withyou a man who is.When you reach the tree, decide which way itshould be thrown, and attack it on that side. Thebees will not disturb a man w^hile he is felling thetree, as they do not realize w^hat is going on.When the tree is almost ready to fall, put on yourmask and gloves. Button the former under yourcoat, or draw it under your suspenders. Tie yourtrousers round the ankles, and the gauntlets roundyour wrists.A companion should light one of the sulphurballs and have it ready; if the tree is hollow at thebutt, he should light both balls. When the treefalls he must quickly apply one of the burningsticks to the bees' doorway, and the other to thehole in the butt. If there is one. The fumes willstupify the now angry insects or at least enoughoi them to make the work easier.Chop into the tree until you have located thehoney. It is now that the fun begins, for thebees understand by this time that they are beingrobbed, and the able-bodied ones will pounce uponthe offenders, perhaps rushing upon the axemanm a mass so thick that he cannot see through hisveil and must brush the fierce little warriors away.On a cold night they will be less active than ifthe weather is warm.Having found the honey, cut through the trun^\)oth above and below it, split out the slab, and