The natives
paused, howling and shrieking, before the final rush.
An inspiration came to Deltos. He tore his cap from his head and his net
from his face.
"Look!" he screamed, above the uproar. "I am a man, like yourselves! Do
not kill!"
Next second he froze in his tracks. The next he was writhing in the
death agony, and the bees were supreme once.
Supreme herself had stung Deltos.
XV
OVERLOOKED
Of the four on the earth, Smith was the first to make any comment. He
had considerable difficulty in throwing his thought to the others;
somehow he felt slightly dazed.
"This is--unbelievable!" he said, and repeated it twice. "To think that
those insects are still the masters!"
"I wish"--Billie's voice shook somewhat--"I wish almost that I had let
you warn Rolla. It might have helped--" She broke off suddenly, intent
upon something Supreme was hearing. "Just listen!"
"Quick!" a lieutenant was humming excitedly to the commandant. "Back to
the hives; give the order, Supreme!"
It was done, and immediately the bees quit the throng of natives and
their victims, rushing at top speed for their precious city. As they
went, Supreme demanded an explanation.
"What is the meaning of this?"
For answer the lieutenant pointed her antennae straight ahead.
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