Part 6 (2/2)
”A hole? A hole, did you say? There are very many holes round here It's probably just an ordinary hole You have no idea how round”
Bobbie had hardly uttered the last hen soerness to appear indifferent he had lost his balance and toppled over Maya heard a despairing shriek, and the next instant saw the beetle lying flat on his back in the grass, his ar pitifully in the air
”I'et back on ain
I'll die I'll die in this position Have you ever heard of a worse fate!”
He carried on so that he did not hear Maya trying to coround with his feet But each tiive way, and he'd fall over again on his high half-sphere of a back The case looked really desperate, and Maya was honestly concerned; he was already quite pale in the face and his cries were heart-rending
”I can't stand it, I can't stand this position,” he yelled ”At least turn your head away Don't torture a dying man with your inquisitive stares-- If only I could reach a blade of grass, or the stem of the buttercup You can't hold on to the air nobody can do that nobody can hold on to the air”
Maya's heart was quivering with pity
”Wait,” she cried, ”I'll try to turn you over If I try very hard I am bound to succeed But Bobbie, _Bobbie_, dear man, don't yell like that Listen to rass over and reach the tip of it to you, will you be able to use it and save yourself?”
Bobbie had no ears for her suggestion Frightened out of his senses, he did nothing but kick and scream
So little Maya, in spite of the rain, flew out of her cover over to a sli to it near the tip It bent under her weight and sank directly above Bobbie's wriggling liht
”Catch hold of it,” she called
Bobbie felt sorabbed at it, first with one hand, then with the other, and finally with his legs, which had splendid sharp clao each Bit by bit he drew hi the blade until he reached the base, where it was thicker and stronger, and he was able to turn hih of relief
”Good God!” he exclaimed ”That ful But for my presence of mind I should have fallen a victi better?” asked Maya
Bobbie clutched his forehead
”Thanks, thanks When this dizziness passes, I'll tell you all about it”
But Maya never got the answer to her question A field-sparrow carass in search of insects, and the little bee pressed herself close to the ground and kept very quiet until the bird had gone When she looked around for Bobbie he had disappeared So she too made off; for the rain had stopped and the day was clear and warm
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
CHAPTER V
THE ACROBAT
Oh, what a day!
The dew had fallen early in thebea and glistening and glea that you didn't knohat to say or do for sheer ecstasy, it was so beautiful, so beautiful!