Rolla and Cunora knew of it first. They heard the buzzing of that
winged cloud as it passed through the air above their heads; but
such was the bees' intent interest in the village ahead, the two
women were not spied as they hid among the bushes. By this time
twilight was half gone. The firelight lit up the crowd of humans as
they surged and danced about their new deity. For, henceforth, fire
would replace Mownoth as their chief god; it was easy to see that.
Moreover, both Corrus and Dulnop, as primitive people will, had been
irresistibly seized by the spirit of the mob. They threw their
burden down and joined in the frenzy of the dance. Louder and louder
they shouted; faster and faster they capered. Already one or two of
their fellow villagers had dropped, exhausted, to the ground. Never
had they had so good an excuse for dancing themselves to death!
And into this scene came the bees. Not one of them dared go within
ten yards of the flames; for a while, all they did was to watch the
humans.
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