Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-11-29

Us easily as forward-and made a wide
detour coming toward the ant from
another quarter. But when he was
again within foot of his prey he stop
ped and looked, as general might
| look through his fleldglass to find the
best point of attack upon an enemy.
Then the spider backed off as before
and made another detour. Thus he
continued making scalloped course
around the ant until he came to the
point where the stick was imbedded
| in the earth. Then he crawled upon
the stick, which was broader than his
body, and began walking up 1t toward
the elevated end under which the ant
was working so busily that he did not
seem to suspect the presence Of
dreadful enemy. Every now and then
the spider stopped and seemed to Fred
to peep over the edge Of the stick to
make sure of the ants position. AS he
neared the point directly over the ant
he crept with the utmost caution. and
at last, when he had made ready, by
| fastening an end Of web securely TO
the stick (these spiders do this so that
| they may climb back IL need bel. he
settled himself several times as a cat
| settles herself for spring, and quick
as fash was upon the unsuspecting
ant, graphing him tightly in his long.
hairy legs.
The struggle that followed was dis
appointment to Fred. The great bulk
of the spider completely covered the
ant from view, and after few slight
upheavals, as IL the ant were making
his last desperate effort to free himself
from the merciless grip, all became
quiet. For as much as half an hour
the boy watched the insects, for he
wished TO know what the spider was
going TO do with the ants carcass.
And as boys generally sympathize with
the under dog, so Fred sympathized
with the poor little ant He could not
help admiring the shrewd generalship
of the spider, but it seemed a mean
sort of thing to pounce on the ant from
this vantage point without giving him
the least chance to save himself, and
besides. the spider was more than ten
| times as big as the ant Fred was now
sorry that he had not pushed the spider
of and given the ant a chance to stand
up for fair fight or at least to have a
try at foot race.
After a. long, long time the spider be
gaa to loosen the murderous grip in
which he had held his prey, and as the
long hairy legs Strengthened away Fred
knelt down close and got peep under
the spiders big body. The ant was lying
fat upon its back. Farther and far
ther the spiders legs spread until they
met above his back. Fred had never
before seen spider do this, so he bent
down closer to see what 1t meant. Then
the strangest thing Of all happened.
The spider, with all his eight legs
raised above his back. rolled over on his
side. and Fred saw not only that he
was dead, but that the ant had cut
him open and scooped everything out
Of him. leaving only the empty skin In
the outward form Of spider So, aft
er all the boy had wasted his sympa-
thy on the poor little ant. who seemed
to be amply able to take care OF him
self. And when the little black fellow
began dragging the great hulk Of the
dead spider across the road. over the
mountains and through the valleys
made by hoofs and wheels, Freds ad
miration for the ants enormous
strength was aroused. and he said 10
himself:
Gee! IL could lift load like that,
could walk OF with house"
Then he added, Well. the ant has
got his Thanksgiving dinner all right-" !"
And this brought back to his mind the