The Cricket's Friends Part 5

"'Do not despise the petrel because she is not so strong and beautiful as yourself,' I replied.

"'Ha, ha!' laughed a macaw from his high perch. 'How fine it is to be a water-fowl, and have such long legs.'

"At this all the storks, herons, and egrets ruffled their plumes, and prepared for an angry dispute with the saucy macaw; but I hastened to interfere.

"'I should be sorry to make any trouble among you. If you would tell me any wonders to be seen here, or show me any of your homes, I should be greatly obliged.'

"A black nose was poked out of the water, and a turtle, in a shrill little voice, piped,--

"'Did you ever see us lay eggs? We shall be about it soon,' then sank out of sight again.

"'As to that, the world is full of wonders wherever you may turn,' said the stork, who had first spoken. 'You should visit our ants'--

"What more the stork would have said, I cannot tell; for just then a crashing noise was heard in the thicket, and all my companions took flight on the approach of the lord of the forest. Presently the jaguar appeared close beside me, and stooped to quench his thirst in the pool, so I had an opportunity of seeing what a fine creature he was, with his soft striped fur, velvet paws, and glowing, cruel eyes. I did not dare move even so much as to put on my cap, while my wings seemed paralyzed with fear. Startled by some sound, for he is a very shy, cautious animal, the jaguar retired again, and I only just escaped a severe crushing from his powerful foot as he pa.s.sed.

"I must now describe to you my first night in a tropical land. As darkness increased I sought shelter on a spreading shrub, and the insects began a tremendous noise. 'They will grow sleepy by and by,' I thought drowsily.

"But not a wink of sleep did they take, or allow me, that whole long night. The howling monkeys began the concert, the tree-frogs and crickets trilled occasionally, and the owls hooted dismally. When I tried to stop my ears to these sounds, the fire-flies, resembling crystal drops of fire, flared their torches in my face with blinding brilliancy.

"'Don't, please,' I pleaded.

"The naughty fire-flies only laughed at my misery, and danced around me in bewildering circles of flame, until my eyes ached.

"'I wish you would be quiet,' I said crossly.

"'Quiet,' echoed the fire-flies. 'Not we. There is all to-morrow for naps.'

"It was not long, with such an experience, before I found I could not live in the tropics. I never had a sound night's rest while there.

"I strolled on through the cool, shady forest, which formed a delightful contrast to the hot, sunny landscape without. What most amused me was to see the little, striped-faced monkeys poke a cl.u.s.ter of inquisitive heads out of the holes of trees where they were sleeping, if any sound disturbed them. They paid dearly for their curiosity, as I shall presently tell you. I had paused to admire the b.u.t.terflies that cl.u.s.tered in the sunlight here and there, as if desirous to display their gorgeous coloring to the best advantage. Some were of a velvet blackness, relieved by rose-colored and green shadings; others were of a blue, metallic l.u.s.tre; and others floated on outspread wings, transparent as gla.s.s, spangled with lines of violet, silver, and gold.

No wonder the lovely insects were vain of their gaudy dress! When I told them I was a stranger, they danced and pirouetted in their giddy flight, until they resembled the wandering petals of falling flowers. Suddenly a handsome dragon-fly, whose armor glittered with a golden refulgence, swooped down to capture one of the b.u.t.terflies, then retired to a neighboring branch, and prepared to devour his prey.

"'Why don't you stay at home with your sober wife, instead of whisking about where I can catch you?' said the dragon-fly, shaking his pretty captive.

"Just then there approached a very singular-looking person indeed. He wore a broad hat, blue spectacles, and had a great many curious tin cases slung about his belt and over his shoulder. In his hand he carried a dip-net, which he threw cleverly over our heads, and entangled us in the bag. We could do nothing but stare helplessly at one another in dismay.

"'Oh, dear!' cried a young b.u.t.terfly piteously, 'We shall now have pins driven through us, and be speared to a cardboard platter for ever. I have heard my mother say so.'

"We all shivered,--even the dragon-fly, who had been captured also. Of course the striped-faced monkeys came peeping out in the wrong time, and, after a good deal of poking into the tree, one of them was caught.

Thus the naturalist gentleman returned home with his treasures, the little monkey alone of us all being destined to live.

"The first thing, upon taking us from the net, was to politely hold a bottle to our noses, which caused a few feeble kicks in the air, then a fainting fit. When I again opened my eyes, I was lying upon a board, surrounded by my companions, who were transfixed with pins upon paper, as the young b.u.t.terfly had said. I certainly thought my end had come, and that hereafter my body was destined to adorn some cabinet. I pretended to be still unconscious, and so lay quite motionless under the large microscope through which the naturalist gentleman regarded me, now poking my ribs, now turning my head to one side, and all the while making remarks on my personal appearance.

"'I don't believe that you belong here at all,' he exclaimed. 'I must dissect what may prove a new species.'

"Here seemed my last chance of escape; so, watching an opportunity, when he was selecting a suitable knife to carve me up with, I drew my elf's cap from under my wing. The naturalist gentleman was too quick for me: he seized my night-cap with his tweezers, and began eagerly to examine it. I was sorry enough for the loss. Still one had better part with the fairy's gift than life itself: so I flew away. I dare say the naturalist gentleman may have carefully preserved the cobweb cap, to puzzle science with for a long time.

"Journeying on, I came to the bank of one of the largest rivers in the world. I paused to view the waves dash against the sh.o.r.e in foam, the vessels flit past on the strong breeze, and the distant villages on the other side. There were several low strips of sand reaching out from near where I rested, and I observed groups of natives making camp-fires, or erecting a kind of watch-tower overlooking the land. I inquired what they were doing, of a monkey who sat stroking his sandy whiskers with an indolent air.

"'Ah! don't you know?' he returned. 'They are waiting for the turtles to lay their eggs.'

"The next morning I beheld a curious sight. In the first gray dawn, myriads of turtles were creeping down the sandy slope, and flapping into the water again, their duties of depositing eggs for that season being accomplished. No sooner had they departed, than the natives gave signals, and from every direction crowded the boats to receive the eggs, which would then be prepared as turtle oil, and sold in jars.

"I decided to try and find the ants next, as I had been recommended to do so by the stork. The monkey could tell me but little of them, and advised my searching farther inland, I next encountered the iguana, who poked his head out from among the creeping vines of a tree as I pa.s.sed.

Any thing so monstrous in a lizard I had never dreamed of. It must have been five feet long, was very fat, and the skin changed color like that of a chameleon. The Indians are fond of the eggs of this species, which they eat mixed with farinha. When I asked about the ants, the iguana answered,--

"'I do not trouble myself much about those busy fellows; still, you will find them almost everywhere, I dare say.'

"I bid him good-by hastily, for I was half afraid of such a great creature, and left him winking lazily on the branch as before. If the Spider was here, I could tell him of some relatives that I met,--rough, hairy spiders, with fierce looks; soft, plump things that melt away almost at the touch; and others of gorgeous hues, that double themselves into cunning shapes to resemble flowers and buds. At last I came upon an army of Sauba ants, each one carrying a bit of green leaf daintily as a parasol. Although on the march, the whole company treated me most cordially.

"'We cannot stop now,' said one of the soldiers. 'Come with us.'

"So I followed in the train, curious to know what they were about.

Presently they paused; and a detachment turned aside to overrun an orange-tree, from which they stripped the foliage with incredible rapidity. Having performed this duty, they rejoined the main army, and the whole moved on to their incomplete nest. Here the leaf-bearers merely threw down their burdens, and the workers placed them in proper order.

"'We use the bits of leaf to thatch the dome of our house, thus preventing the loose earth from falling in,' said an ant near by, pausing to take breath in the midst of his labors.

"He then led me through the vast subterranean galleries of their dwelling, which extended an immense distance, as may be imagined, for the exterior of the nest must have been at least forty feet in diameter.

The ants promised, if I would return after their day's work was done, they would give me some interesting accounts of themselves. Leaving the busy throng, I crept into a flower-bell to take a nap. When I returned, the Sauba ants were actually resting themselves,--a luxury that I did not suppose an ant ever indulged in. Some of them were strolling about at their ease; and others were diligently scrubbing their coats after their work, or were a.s.sisting each other in the friendly task of brushing such portions of the body as could not be reached by the owner.

They were very chatty and agreeable, so we enjoyed ourselves very much.

"'Have you met the foraging ant?' asked one. 'They sally forth with officers to direct the movement. They are rather hot-tempered and cross, to be sure, attacking any one fiercely that may come in their path; yet they do a world of good. When it is known they are approaching, people open every closet, drawer, and box in their houses, that the ants may search and cleanse them. What digestions they have! Scorpions, c.o.c.kroaches, lizards, rats, and snakes are devoured in a trice; while into every crack and cranny where a stray insect may have hidden pour the army until all is cleared: then on they go again.'

"'How wonderful!' I exclaimed.

"'I can tell you of a wiser race yet,' chimed in another. 'The agricultural ant of Texas plants and reaps for itself. The nest is surrounded by a mound, and then the land is cleared for several feet beyond. A grain-bearing gra.s.s is sowed by the insect, and afterward tended with great care, the ant cutting away all other gra.s.ses or weeds that may spring up,--like the good farmer it is. When the small, white seed is ripe, it is carefully harvested, and carried into the granary, where it is cleared of the chaff, which is thrown outside as worthless.

Should the rain wet the winter stores, the ant brings the grain out into the sun to dry, that the damp may not cause sprouting among the provisions. What do you think of all that?' concluded the ant, with a triumphant manner.

"'I think you are the most wonderful insects in the world.'

"At this the Sauba ants all looked highly pleased, and they richly deserved the compliment; so there was really no harm in it. I found myself exposed to so many dangers, without my magic cap, that I finally concluded to fly to the seash.o.r.e, and see if I could take pa.s.sage homeward again. Here I found no other a bird than the Petrel's baby, now a handsome young fellow enough, who readily agreed to carry me northward.

"I strapped myself to my bearer with the horse-hairs, and found myself rather a better sailor than on my first voyage. I am now on my way to the pansy fairy, with the pet.i.tion that he will give me another cap. If he consents, I shall next visit Europe and the East," said the ambitious Wasp pompously, in conclusion.

The whole Club were so much entertained by this history, that the Saucepan never once complained of her uncomfortable position, rolling on her side. Hulda was much surprised to find her in this att.i.tude next morning; but the maid servant wisely concluded the rats must have visited the shelf, and whisked the Saucepan off with their long tails.

When it came time for the disappointed Caterpillar, they were surprised by the entrance of a welcome guest: the Spider came sidling in, looking gay as possible. Of course they all spoke at the same time, and asked a hundred questions before he could answer one; especially the Teapot, who had never appeared so excited on any previous occasion.

"I am all right again, thank you," said the Spider gruffly. "I got a few bruises by my fall from the window; but, being used to tumbles of all sorts, I have now recovered somewhat, although I felt rather stiff the next day."

"I am not fond of talking," said the Caterpillar, with humility, "nor can I do so well. In my present state of caterpillarhood, I am aware that I do not please,--that I am not, in fact, any thing but an uninteresting glutton. There! the Spider is laughing already."

"I should be sorry to do any thing so rude," said the Spider slyly; "only you are rather fond of leaf-salad, I have heard."

"True," replied the Caterpillar, smacking his lips at the thought. "What could be more delicious! Still I must not dwell upon topics of food, for fear I should never have done describing such delicacies as suit my palate. I shall not find much in my own personal history to entertain you this evening. Never having travelled, like my two distinguished companions, I cannot bring to your notice the wonders of other lands, as they have so ably done."

Here the Wasp and Spider arose, laid one foreleg upon the heart, and made a low bow in acknowledgment of the compliment.