At this stage, M. Hollydorf interrupted the Dosch, with the assurance that he was fully convinced not only of the actual existence of animalculan humanity, but of the tangible wisdom of Manatitlan providence, shown in their inauguration of rational system for educational discernment, necessary for the fulfillment in life of happy intention. “But the difficulty of making the home society realize by letter the multiplying wonders in the course of our discoveries, puzzles my invention for a credible method of imparting the information without subjecting my sanity and integrity to impeachment. If you can, in your wisdom, resolve me how I may absolve myself with credit in my official correspondence, I shall certainly feel grateful.”

The Dosch smilingly assured him that he had no occasion for fear, as the sensational novelty of truthful record, with a little auramental aid rendered by the Manatitlans in the substitution of thought, would suffice for the ready adoption and belief of his report, as a marvelous indication of the age, in evidence of rapid progression under German lead. With this closing advisorial suggestion the Dosch and his companions departed for Manicul?.

The abstracted mood, fitful and irrelevant conversation, with the daily convocations of the four conservators of the Manatitlan secret, in the house under the northern temple’s eastern wall, did not fail to attract the wondering curiosity of their associates. But 144as M. Hollydorf had emancipated the members of the corps from field duty, they found no lack of pleasing occupation in rendering useful aid to the Heracleans. Doctor Baāhar had enlisted the padre, for a quid pro quo, in the pursuit of butterflies; the two curators of sound engaged in herding and woodland pursuits; Jack and Bill, under Heraclean and Kyronese instruction, engaged in “navigating” a small garden plot in the latifundium, with amusing success, while Viscouswitzs, the artist, wooed the Indian maids of the Vermejo tribe.

The Dosch, in continuation of his historical sketch of the Manatitlans, passed to the period noted as the Heraclean epoch.

The third century of your Christian era was well advanced before they were aware that there was a race of white gigas occupying a city not far remote from Manicul?. At that period distance was measured by the time occupied in conveyance by the insects then in use for transportation; but as the vitality of their bodies was subject to deciduous tenure, travelers were obliged to confine their researches within the limits of populated districts, between which adventitious paths were well defined. The defective means of communication with remote Manatitlan provinces had ever been a source of sincere regret. Still the lack of advancement in the art of locomotion had never interfered with the actual realization of happiness. The wood roach and beetle were used as insects of draught in the preparation of the soil for cultivation, and the flea for equisaltation, it being the favorite mount for distant journeys and pleasure excursions. The first innovation upon these time honored extra locomotive adjuncts, was effected by the persevering ingenuity and daring courage of a medium named Bussee. He had from an early age devoted his thoughts to natural history with the practical intention 145of improving the native stock which was too diminutive to be made available for transportation. As a boy he had been noted for a quick practical judgment, displayed in his ability to eke out from scant means the fulfillment of a desired end. Many of his improved domestic utensils are still in use, in evidence of an inventive genius in advance of his age. His habits were erratic, showing an impatience that disdained restraint within the bounds of precedental usage. Still his affectionate desire to confer public benefits attracted a grateful solicitude whenever his absence was unusually prolonged. But as he rarely returned without some valuable acquisition, confidence in his ability for self-protection waived anxiety. At length an absence of two months without communicating with his family, aroused public sympathy to such a pitch that a search was decided upon. In preparation the citizens of Manicul? had collected in the anthemique to consult upon the most feasible means of conducting the search.

When the direction was decided upon, and they were issuing forth for its prosecution, they were startled by the gyrations of an apis isolata (solitary bee) in close proximity to their heads. After a few eccentric evolutions which excited a commensurate degree of alarm, their fears were relieved by a shout of laughter in the jovial tones of the absentee, who, by a skillful direction, caused the bee to alight in their midst. When sufficiently assured of freedom from danger, his parents and the Dosch approached near enough to obtain a view of his mechanical appliances for guiding his prize. Between the wings of the bee, upon his back, a net with latticed films, supported in dome shape by stiff fibres, was attached. This turret was retained in place by filaments, which passed beneath his body, in the articulation between the body and thorax, so that his movements and winged action were not impeded. To the antenn?, on either side, 146were attached filamental guides, or reins, for directing his course, the proximal extremities being coupled within the pilot cone. When assured of the strength and security of the attachments, the Dosch and parents of Buzzee ventured on a short experimental flight. As the insect circled, in company with his mate, to gain a bee line, the daring volantaph caused him to execute a variety of intricate evolutions, which at first alarmed his passengers, who expostulated with him in reproof for his temerity. But when he explained his wish to show them how completely the movements of the bee were under his control, they no longer offered objections, their fears being turned to admiration. When satisfied that air flights could be conducted with more ease, safety, and swiftness, beyond the most sanguine expectations of ancient or modern Manatitlan prognosticators, his enterprise was highly commended. When landed the Dosch and advisors expressed a desire, in behalf of the people, to listen to a relation of his adventures in the anthemique, as it would be the means of avoiding rehearsals from hearsay, with the defects that of necessity were attendant upon individual versions. An hour before evening song the anthemique was thronged with the citizens of Manicul? anxious to hear Buzzee’s relation of the expedients used for a capture so important in its prospective bearings to the people of Manatitla. To enhance the clearness of his demonstration, and at the same time show the dazed docility of the bee, Buzzee directed his flight to the cantilor’s rostrum, and after he had settled addressed the assemblage from the pilot cone, in substance, as follows:—

“Although no stranger to your manifestations of affection, I am well aware that in appearance I have been remiss in rendering you suitable returns; but am certain that your confidence in the integrity of my intentions will exculpate me from meditated indifference. I am now happy in being able to bring 147you tangible proof that my wanderings were not prompted from motives of selfishness or disdain. From my childhood I have listened in silence to the oft repeated regrets that our extraneous means of locomotion were limited to insects so lacking in the instincts of intelligence necessary for successful direction. Those available for locomotion were too ephemeral in their term of existence to be trusted for conveyance far beyond the habitable limits of our country, which from the illimitable firmament seemed to be but a mere speck upon the earth’s surface. With a curious desire to learn the wonders of creation overshadowed by the starry canopy, my earliest thoughts were directed to the acquirement of the means necessary for safe transportation above the earth’s surface. My thoughts were at first naturally directed to artificial wings as the indicated means of progressive transposition from earth to atmospheric space, without giving thought to the consideration of ponderable adaptability. Human mortality, which requires omnivorous support, declares itself ponderable in the vis inertia of earth, in contrast with the airy attenuations that bespeak adaptative intention in creating the tenants of space. In addition, with the successful achievement of working wings, there would be inevitable friction with the uncertainties of wear and derangement in flight, with awkward position of ponderable suspension in space for repairs. So my inventive genius was fain to hold itself convinced of the futility of subverting the order of elementary adaptation, designed by the Creator for the perfection of His intentions. Self convicted with the foolish audacity of my labors to safely suspend with motion, and locomote with facility ponderable humanity in space, I bethought myself of man’s privilege of making subordinate organic vitality, with legitimate kindly motive, subservient to his desired facilitations. For the elucidation of my thought suggestions I directed my investigations 148to insects of flight, to select from their varied species one suited to our requirements. The primary qualifications necessary were sagacity, supporting wing expanse, strength, longevity, and equal motion in flight, with instinctive perception of individuality sufficient for submission to our kindly direction. The efficient qualities indicated for the selection of a winged conveyance, were first, size, with an adaptation for control, in combination with a supporting buoyancy in excess of its individual requirements. In the second degree intelligence, with a longevity sufficient for compensative training, and memory capable of retaining the imposed impressions, subject to the recognition of personal direction foreign to their own volition. Added to these essential qualifications, it was desirable that the insect should be naturally inclined to sustain a long and swift flight. Bees had early attracted my attention, but there were many objections to their adoption that seemed insurmountable. Multitudinous in association, and individually aggressive, were primary defects in disposition; while in industrious habits and vocation they were subject to routine enactments, which together with the tenacious nature and method of collecting and disposing of their food threatened to end my ambitious projects, in trial with them, in death from suffocation, or waxed adhesion to their bodies or cells. The fear of being stalled and borne to their cells for living incorporation, raised an insuperable dread, that prevented me from coveting an experimental acquaintance with the working orders of their kind. Often in my wanderings I have passed beyond the boundaries of Manatitla in search of a locomotive desideratum, which I had supposed necessary for the welfare of our race, as well as a gratuitous vehicle for the gratification of my covetous desire to rise into the realms of space, to survey beneath our terrestrial place of abode. A month since I was returning homeward sad and dispirited 149with continued disappointments, when at the close of day, while the glowing tints of the setting sun still lingered in the glory of their parting adornment to foliage and flowers, I was attracted by the swift whirr of strange insect wings. In a moment my attention was drawn with intent desire toward a pair of insects bearing a hybrid resemblance to the bee family. After a careful reconnoitering inspection, seemingly directed, first, to the quality of the flowers of a tropical honeysuckle, and secondly, to see if they contained insect occupants, they alighted upon the petals of the fairest. Unlike the hoarding selfish instincts of their congeners of the bee kind, they premised their labors with playful dalliance, partly upon wing and with sprightly pedal evolutions, while darting in chase and counter chase in and out from the petaled cups of the flowers. In a few minutes their playful antics and fondlings ceased, then the male with an autocratic appearance of gallantry assisted his spouse to load herself with the sweets and waxy exudations of the flowers, this accomplished he sent her unescorted away, evidently to unload in their store house. During her absence he devoted his time to a general inspection of the flowers, with the evident intention of selecting the best. In one he found a belated droniva (a tropical representative of the bumble-bee family) who was ejected without ceremony, although double the size of the audacious usurper. His activity, independence, and cleanly regard for his own person, disposed me to excuse his cavalier exaction of service drudgery from his mate, as the duty seemed to afford her pleasure. In fact the pair impressed me so favorably, that I determined to avail myself of the opportunity to secure a permanent attachment.

“Years anterior, as you are aware, I perfected a harness in anticipation of the fulfillment of my hopes of being able to make a capture suited for our locomotive requirements. This I had carried with me in all 150my excursions, and while my coveted prize was engaged in his erratic flights, I placed myself in ambush in the fairest flower of his selection, and had the gratification of securing him in leash before the return of his mate. He soon became aware of unusual restraint, and curious to learn its cause made experimental flights which gave me an opportunity to test the success of my invention, and I was delighted to find that I could direct his course with ease. Seemingly puzzled at the loss of his voluntary power of direction, he made every available effort to learn the cause of his sudden bereavement, and was pursuing his investigations when his spouse returned. With mandibulations he quickly communicated to her the restraint that had been placed upon his movements during her absence. With evident anxiety she commenced a search for the impedimental cause. In a few moments she discovered the filamental guides that I had attached to his antenn? beneath the carapace, but failing in her attempts to remove them, after a short consultation, they rose in flight from the flower to the bee line of their home with a marked show of anxiety, which made me feel a glow of regret that my selfishness had been the cause of their disquietude. Once only, in homeward flight, did I attempt to subject him to a variation in course, but it caused such a trepidation in his mate that it was with difficulty that she recovered the balance movement of her wings. Reaching their cell, which was in a fissured ledge of basaltic formation, they held another consultation and investigation, during which my turret cone was subjected to a close examination, but the tough silicothed filaments were too strong for removal by her feeble efforts. Finding his strange investment inevitable, and attended with but slight inconvenience, he, at last, with cheerful philosophy, soothed the anxiety of his spouse with endearments, abated of their autocratic patronizing air of superiority. This 151show of appreciation for his mate’s solicitude, at once bespoke a high degree of sympathetic intelligence attained by a union of instinctive equality. In contrasted proof of the evident assumption, I will adduce the ants, and our neighbors of the human species, who live in a state of concubinage, to show that sexual gregation begets a condition of brutal selfishness in the males, causing them to use physical strength for the reduction of their females to serve as bond slaves of passion and labor for multitudinous production in kind. From their continued dalliance after nightfall, I was pleased to learn that their habits were semi-nocturnal in perceptive activity. When they finally retired for the night to the shelter within their cell, I suffered retributive spasms from the powerful mellific odors that pervaded the cell, which caused protracted coughing and general relaxation, so that in my extremity I was prompted to make my escape into the open air, but the intense darkness and my weakness prevented me. As my air passages became accustomed to the acrid irritation, I in sequence suffered from melli............