Chip Wing suddenly exclaimed: “Does not this look like the wood near our
Queen’s realm?”
“No, no!” said Spider Eyes, “it cannot be. We have flown too far away.”
“Yet it really looks like it,” said Pointed Toes. “Those trees are like
the very ones we passed when we were going to make ready the Queen’s
palace.”
“It cannot be,” said Dusty Cap. “We will soon find out where we are, for
we will ask the first thing that comes this way. Let us sit down on this
rock and wait.”
[Illustration: GOLD JACKET, THE BUMBLEBEE, LEADS THEM]
They were but just seated when they heard, “Buzz, buzz! buzz, buzz!”
They were sure that they had heard that sound before. The “buzz, buzz,”
came nearer, and looking up they saw that it was Gold Jacket, the
bumblebee.
On what mission was he going?
He could not be spared long from Queen Wishtah’s realm.
They flew to him and eagerly asked what he was doing here; was he, too,
going to leave the Queen to see the beautiful world.
He answered them, saying: “I am glad that you four have come back.”
“But we have not,” said Spider Eyes. “How can you say such a thing! for
we will not come back until we have seen the beautiful world.”
“Buzz, buzz!” laughed Gold Jacket, the bumblebee. “You seek the beautiful
world; I will lead you to it now.”
How happy they felt that their old friend, the bumblebee, with his sweet
words, would show them at last the beautiful world. Buzz, buzz! whiz,
whiz! on flew the bumblebee, never stopping and ever calling them to
follow.
On, on he flew until he reached the gates of Queen Wishtah’s palace.
“There, my little friends,” he said, turning to them, “are the gates
to the beautiful world. You have sought it elsewhere all in vain. The
beautiful world is our own home! It matters not where, if love and
contentment dwell there.”
THE END.