Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-02-26


but one exceptions poor turtle which
l had tied 10 a stake that morning. in
tending 10 keep him alive for few
days before making him into sOup. lilo
was stone dead but the rumncd earth
about him showed that hc had made u
hard fight for life. Not a dead ant was
| to be seen; they bad all been carried
| on by their comrades.
/ aitrrwnrd learned that the warrior
auts refuse 10 touch any food that they
| themselves have not caught and smin
/ which accounted for my provisions re-
manning unmolcsted.
| was overioycd at the change In my
house not cockroach, lizard or any
| other insect or reptile WIS left: they
| had been completely extcrminutcd
My secoud experience with warrior
| ants was not attended by such pleasant
/ results, ns you yhnil see.
| / had been hunting all day ia the vast
forest with fairly good luck, but M dusk
! approached | found that Ia my euthui.
usm hnd wandered from the TRAN. and
that ] was practically lost
Dreuding the possibility of having 10
remain all night In tie forest without
| my pablo lmosquitO metz ! looked around
for point OF vantage from which 10
survey the surrounding country and get
my bearings. Selecting tail cabbage
palm tree whose top lowered high
above the others, | removed my heavy
hunting boots and started ON my nn.
ward journey. The smooth surface of
the tree rendered il difficult climbing,
when about half way NJ ! slipped aud
tell to The ground, a distance of about
Fortunately the earth beneath me wa.
| soft and Hpungy, and / escaped without
being injured internally.
l tried to rise, but the sharp thrill OF
exquisite agony which shot through my
lcit leg made it impossible ! had
broken my leg. aud the unpleasant fncl
that / was helpless and must he Their,
oil night stared uie IN the face
| My ultimate rescue troubled mp bul
little, FOR l knew it was but % qucstiof
Of comparatively short time before m,
absence from the village would Doe dis
covered ana search party sent ont
Covering my head with my cauvns coni
as n protection against the myraid oil
mosquitoes which appeared soon nftcl
dark, | prepared Ia make myself ~
comfortable as was possible under Ia,
existing circumstances
The long hours dragged along. aud (,
spite OF my precautions the mOsqultoe,
bit me numerically
Now and then a troop OF babOonl
would crash through the forest nnf
make night hideOns with their deer
ronrs as they jumped from tree I,
tree.
|
the slumbering animal aud bird world
who would add their quota 90 the infer
nal din, and IL would be hours before IA,
forest would be quiet again.
Finally the sun rose aud with the da,
came strong sea breeze which swen
nay prosecutors, the mosquitoes, lar In
land.
Llstlessly I glanced about me. and. n,
/ did 80, my eyes fell upon what socmet
90 be large green blanket that | bnt
not noticed before about forty fee
away.
| lazily speculated as TO what Il was
whom presently a tremOr ran through II
and Il appeared TO move.
On Il came toward me across tho open
slowly dragging over The uneven grouut
a. though propelled by some invislbl,
force.
Suddenly The truth flashed across M,
niId-it was the advance guard of hi
army OF warrior ants, aud the tiny greer
leaves COMPOSING the moving mass wer,
each carried by Que Of them.
My heart sank within mc as I rpman
bered the fate of the snake aud thoueh
Of my helpless condition.
Fascinated, ! watched their prepare
lions Tor the onslaught
The green mass stopped Tho ant
had discovered the presence Of an enelpl
| la their path.
Messengers hurried 10 the rear. an,
soon the miun body appeared. tho
marched as ! had seen thoiu before Il
compact column about Hx feet via
and extending ns far bacs ~ flle ~
could reach. On they came, closer an
closer.
Suddenly / felt n shooting pnin iu m,
FOOT Ike the puuCture Of r6l-bo
needle, then another and IN un instnu
my body was covered with the fcrocion
insects.
They penetrated my clothes ana SAM
their pncers deep into my ouiverin
tesh. They doubled Themselves 90 AN
dung 10 iue witli bulldog tennoltv TIM
dreds J killed bat thousands reiuoine
10 take their places.
hadenei with pain, i shriekod an
SCREAMED Ike q hurt child Than
heQgenl Answering cries were beare
ana = party Of natives burst throne
| lhf hush.
lify look Ca the situation al n elmo.
AMI, rushing ii amongst tho ants plrfe
ine up and bore me rapidly away froi
my terrible asGailants
Tho ncxi day, while lying III my IN
with 10y idjnrcu lex in q 5Ulint a4id IN
swollen body daubod with moist clov.
yonng native entered, hoidiag CAREFUL
between has fingers a large Warrior aii
"SenOr r0n dV not Ike those ans
DE- iuQUirinely asked. ] conlessod AN
my love FOR them ga moi seriously On
lnth ny peoce 81 mind. ''buf we %.
, b. laughed they tiean our houses wfl
] and fleu loo they hual our ,tounils