The Child knew enough of woodcraft to realize at once the
meaning of its sudden departure, and he murmured sympathetically in his
heart, "Oh, I do hope he won't catch them!"
All thoughts of the weasel and the rabbits, however, were speedily
driven from his mind, for at this moment he noticed a fat, yellowish
grub, with a chestnut-colored head, crawling up his sleeve. He hated
grubs, and wondered anxiously if it had any unpleasant design of
crawling down his neck. He squirmed inwardly at the idea. But just as
he was coming to the conclusion that _that_ was something he'd _never_
be able to stand, a most unexpected ally came to his rescue. With a
blow that _almost_ made him jump out of his jacket, something lit on
the fat grub. It was a big black hornet, with white bands across its
shining body. She gave the grub a tiny prick with the tip of her
envenomed sting, which caused it to roll up into a tight ball and lie
still. Then straddling it, and holding it in place with her front pair
of legs, she cut into it with her powerful mandibles and began to suck
its juices. The Child's nose wrinkled in spite of himself at sight of
this unalluring banquet, but he stared with all eyes. There was
something terrifying to him in the swiftness and efficiency of the
great hornet.
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