Judge Peters and Mr.Bliss were fighting the insects with both hands; and Uncle Hannibal, too, was pawing the air, with guffaws of laughter.
"The Egyptians are getting the best of us!" he cried.

"We had better retire in as good order as we can--or it will be another Bull Run!" Retreat was clearly the part of discretion, and so the whole gathering streamed away down the road to a safe distance.

In fact, there was a pretty lively time before all of the people had unhitched their teams and got away.

But in spite of many bee stings it had been a very hilarious meeting; and it is safe to say that all who were at the Methodist chapel that afternoon wanted Uncle Hannibal for Senator.
The old Squire drove home with his guests to supper; Addison and I gathered up our brooms and bee smoker and followed them.
At supper Uncle Hannibal asked us to tell him more about those Egyptian bees, of which he had never heard before; and after the meal he went out to see the colonies in the garden.

He walked up to a hive and boldly caught one of the bees between his thumb and forefinger.