In Search of Goliathus Hercules Read Online Free PDF Page B

screaming and the sound of confused voices from the boat. They managed to escape the fire. Now Henri had to help them through this latest peril. He didn’t want to scare them, though. He called out, “Watch out! There are rapids ahead! Your boat is too light. It will capsize!”
    The beetle cried out, “It’s a man, an insect killer, following us!” And she wept harder, her head bent low. The other insects said, “What? What’s he saying?”
    “No, no! I want to help you. You need ballast, something to make the boat heavier so that it won’t tip over.” Suddenly Henri had a burst of inspiration. From his pocket he pulled out the turquoise button. Taking careful aim, he threw the button as gently as he could toward the boat. “This will help! Duck!” he yelled.
    The little group saw the button flying toward them and scurried for cover. Plop! It landed in the center of the boat, causing it to tip dangerously back and forth. Everyone held on for dear life. As the boat steadied, the grasshopper that was the oarsman called, “That’s it! I’ve got more control now!” And with that, the little boat entered the rapids. Henri ran along the riverbank, to where the water became less turbulent, and waited. He couldn’t see them among the rocks and white water. Suddenly, they catapulted forward, spit out by the angry water. They were a little wet, but everyone was accounted for.
    “Hooray!” called Henri. “You made it!”
    The mantis standing on his long hind legs seemed to be saluting. “Thank you, young sir! We shall never forget this act of kindness. What is your name?”
    “Henri. Henri Bell.”
    “Henri Bell, I salute you! We will tell our grandchildren of the human who saved us on this dreadful day.”
    “Keep the button. It’s lucky. You may need it!” called Henri. He stopped. He could go no farther along the bank. Dense bushes blocked his way. “Good-bye,” called Henri. “Good luck!”
    “Good-bye, Henri Bell!” they all called, and Henri stayed until they disappeared from sight down the stream.

News from Home
    H enri returned to his spot near the anthill on the riverbank. There was a frantic urgency in the air. The crew of the small boat was not the only one trying to escape the fire. The sun was obscured by clouds of insects taking to the air. There was a shrill, loud call repeated again and again by a multitude of voices. “Fly, fly, fly for your life!”
    Henri felt drawn to the fray, but he knew it would be unwise to set foot upon Mrs. Black’s property. Anyway, what could he do? The insects in the air probably had a much better view than he did from the ground. No, there was nothing more he could do, and he was very sad.
    Slowly he turned from the moving sky of insects and trudged back toward Great Aunt Georgie’s house. He decided to take the long way around and go through the front door. As he walked into the front hall, he noticed that the parlor was empty. He saw Great Aunt Georgie had brought in the mail, and he walked over to the hall table. There was a postcard from his mother! Underneath was a flyer that he supposed Great Aunt Georgie had put in the pile, thinking it would be of interest to him.
    Stealthily, Henri climbed up the stairs, avoiding any creaking steps, and scurried as fast as he could to his room, silently shutting the door. He threw himself down on the bed and breathed a deep sigh of relief. So far, so good. No Mrs. Black. Then he heard a voice.
    “Ah, you have returned! My boy, I must say congratulations! What a stroke of brilliance!”
    “Who’s that?” said Henri in a nervous voice. “Dom?”
    “Yes, over here on the windowsill.”
    Henri sat up and moved to the chair by the window. Dom paced back and forth—like any fly—but it was clear he was tremendously excited.
    “What are you talking about, Dom?” asked Henri.
    “I’m talking about the way you helped those insects, the ones on the boat! You saved their lives. You’re the talk of the town, the