“His energies must have been toned up a good deal,” said the Bee-man.

“Toned up!  I should say so!” cried the other.  “I raised a howl, and a Scissor-jawed Clipper came out of his hole, and got after him; but that lazy fool ran so fast that he could not be caught.”

The Bee-man now ran on and soon overtook the Languid Youth.

“You need not be in a hurry now,” said the latter, “for the rules of this institution don’t allow the creatures inside to come out of this opening, or to hang around it.  If they did, they would frighten away visitors.  They go in and out of holes in the upper part of the mountain.”

The two proceeded on their way.

“What are you going to do with that baby?” said the Languid Youth.

“I shall carry it along with me,” said the Bee-man, “as I go on with my search, and perhaps I may find its mother.  If I do not, I shall give it to somebody in that little village yonder.  Any thing would be better than leaving it to be devoured by that horrid dragon.”

“Let me carry it.  I feel quite strong enough now to carry a baby.”

“Thank you,” said the Bee-man, “but I can take it myself.  I like to carry something, and I have now neither my hive nor my doublet.”

“It is very well that you had to leave them behind,” said the Youth, “for the bees would have stung the baby.”

“My bees never sting babies,” said the other.

“They probably never had a chance,” remarked his companion.

They soon entered the village, and after walking a short distance the youth exclaimed:  “Do you see that woman over there sitting at the door of her house?  She has beautiful hair and she is tearing it all to pieces.  She should not be allowed to do that.”

“No,” said the Bee-man.  “Her friends should tie her hands.”

“Perhaps she is the mother of this child,” said the Youth, “and if you give it to her she will no longer think of tearing her hair.”

“But,” said the Bee-man, “you don’t really think this is her child?”

“Suppose you go over and see,” said the other.

The Bee-man hesitated a moment, and then he walked toward the woman.  Hearing him coming, she raised her head, and when she saw the child she rushed towards it, snatched it into her arms, and screaming with joy she covered it with kisses.  Then with happy tears she begged to know the story of the rescue of her child, whom she never expected to see again; and she loaded the Bee-man with thanks and blessings.  The friends and neighbors gathered around and there was great rejoicing.  The mother urged the Bee-man and the Youth to stay with her, and rest and refresh themselves, which they were glad to do as they were tired and hungry.

They remained at the cottage all night, and in the afternoon of the next day the Bee-man said to the Youth:  “It may seem an odd thing to you, but never in all my life have I felt myself drawn towards any living being as I am drawn towards this baby.  Therefore I believe that I have been transformed from a baby.”