Using the same method
Kinney had chosen, Billie succeeded in giving the soldier bee a very
vivid idea of fire. And judging by the very human way in which the half-
asleep insect tossed about, thrashing her wings and legs and making
incoherent sounds, Billie succeeded admirably. The other bees in the
hive came crowding around, and Supreme had some difficulty in
maintaining her dignity and authority. In the end she confided in the
subordinate next in command:
"I have had a terrible dream. One of our slaves, or a woman much like
one, assaulted me with a new and fearful weapon." She described it more
or less as Rolla had told Cunora. "It was a deadly thing; but how I know
this, I cannot say, except that it was exceedingly hot. So long as the
woman held it in her hand, I dared not go near her.
"See to it that the others know; and if such a thing actually comes into
existence, let me know immediately."
"Very well, Supreme." And the soldier straightway took the tale to
another bee. This told, both proceeded to spread the news, bee-fashion;
so that the entire hive knew of the terror within a few minutes. Inside
an hour every hive in the whole "city" had been informed.
"Give them time now," said the doctor, "and they will tell every bee on
the planet.
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