“That’s what I came here for,” said the spider, and smiled strangely. For all her smiling she looked mean and deceitful. “Your tossing and tugging spoils the whole web. Keep quiet one second, and I will set you free.”
“Oh, thanks! Ever so many thanks!” cried Maya.
The spider was now right beside her. She examined the web carefully to see how securely Maya was entangled.
“How about your sting?” she asked.
Ugh, how mean and horrid she looked! Maya fairly shivered with disgust at the thought that she was going to touch her, but replied as pleasantly as she could:
“Don’t trouble about my sting. I will draw it in, and nobody can hurt himself on it then.”
“I should hope not,” said the spider. “Now, then, look out! Keep quiet. Too bad for my web.”
Maya remained still. Suddenly she felt herself being whirled round and round on the same spot, till she got dizzy and sick and had to close her eyes.—But what was that? She opened her eyes quickly. Horrors! She was completely enmeshed in a fresh sticky thread which the spider must have had with her.
“My God!” cried little Maya softly, in a quivering voice. That was all she said. Now she saw how tricky the spider had been; now she was really caught beyond release; now there was absolutely no chance of escape. She could no longer move any part of her body. The end was near.
Her fury of anger was gone, there was only a great sadness in her heart.