The evening call., 1893-06-13

ney. The smooth surface of the tree
rendered it difficult climbing; wher
about halfway up slipped and fell
to the ground, distance of about
thirty feet
Fortunately the earth beneath me
was soft and spongy and I escaped
without being injured internally
l tried to rise, but the sharp thrill
of exquisite agony which shot
through my left leg made it impossi-
BILE. / had broken my leg, and the
unpleasant fact that l was helpless
and must lie there all night stared
me in the face.
My ultimate rescue troubled me
but little, for l knew it was but a
question of comparatively short
time before my absence from the vii
lage would be discovered and a search
party sent out.
Covering my head with my canvas
coat as a protection against the
myriad of mosquitoes which Rap
peared soon after dark, l prepared to
make myself as comfortable as was
possible under the existing circum-
stances.
Now and then troop of balloons
would crash through the forest and
make night hideous with their deep
roars as they jumped from tree to
| tree.
Their cries would awake the rest
of the slumbering animal and bird
world, who would add their quota to
the Internal din, and it would be
hours before the forest would be quiet
again.
Finally the sun rose, and with the
day came strong sea breeze which
swept my prosecutors, the mosquitoes,
far inland.
Listlessly glanced about me, and,
as did so, my eyes fell upon what
seemed to be large green blanket
that had not noticed before, about
forty feet away.
lazily speculated as to what it
was, when presently a tremer ran
through it, and it appeared to move.
On it came toward me across the
open, slowly dragging over the un-
even ground as though propelled by
some invisible force.
Suddenly the truth flashed across
my mind-it was the advance guard
of an army of warrior ants, and the
tiny green leaves composing the mov-
ing mass were each carried by one of |
them.
My heart sank within me as l re-
membered the fate of the snake and |
thought of my helpless condition.
Fascinated, watched their prepa-
rations for the onslaught.
The green mass stopped. The ants
had discovered the presence of an
enemy in their path.
Messengers hurried to the rear, and
soon the main body appeared; they
marched as / had seen them before
lin cumpact column about six
feet wide and extending as far back
as the eye could react. On they
came, closer and closer.
Suddenly felt a shooting pain in
my foot like the puncture of a red
hot needle, then another, and in an
instant my body was covered with
the ferocIous insects.
They penetrated my clothes and
sank their pincers deep into my
qulvering flesh. They doubled them
selves up and clung to me with bull
dog tenacity. Hundreds / killed.
but thousands remained to take their
places.
Maddened with pain, shrieked
and screamed like a hurt child.
Thank Heaven! Answering cries
we're heard, and a party of natives d,
burst through the bush.
They took in the situation at !,
glance, and, rushing in amongst the !
ants, picked me up and bore me
'apidly away from my terrible as :
:
The next day, while living in my l
nut with my injured leg in a splint
md my swollen body daubed with !.
moist clay. young native entered, /
holding carefully between his fingers
! large warrior ant.
''Senor, you do not like these ants:"
le inquiringly asked.
| confessed that my love for them L
lid not seriously disturb my peace of e
mind =
"But we do" he laughed, "they v
lean our houses we'll, and then, too, I
hey heal our wounds"
took the ant from his hand on L
wig. He was about half an inch y
Dng and Of glossy iet-black color. I
lis head, which was of enormous Il
comparative size, was armed with ex- n
eedingIy sharp, branching forceps, or
landibles, which he kept high in n
he air, now and again bringing his q
avs together with a sudden snan II
1t was hard for me TO believe that q
his lively little fellow was stone a
lind, yet such was the case: they Il
ave no eyes, but their sense OF smell a.
very acute, and the absence of n
ght seems TO trouble them very lit.
e. a
Yes" l replied, handing the in c;
ect back. ii have seen them clean IL
our houses-but as for wounds" rub lie
ing myself ruefully. II thought CT
1eY made them instead or healing b.
lem." hi
Look at this cut upon my hand. " al