The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-03-15
A BRAVE LITTLE Ant.
WILLING TO LOSE HIS OWN LIFE TO
SAVE HIS FELLOWS.

A Naturalist's Interesting story OF
the Herofsm Displayed by One of
These Tiny Creatures In Moment
of Extreme Peril.
The sun was just setting. writes a
naturalist, when | returned. slightly
fatigued, from several miles ride on
my wheel. AS is my custom on re-
turning home, took the garden hose
and turned water into great trench
which had been dug around maple
tree for the purpose of holding water
sufficient time to permit the, dirt ,ad-
jacent to the roots to become thorough
ly soaked.
Sitting down near the tree to rest,
my attention was soon attracted to q
group of small ants rushing hither and
thither in an endeayor to escape. The
bottom Of the circular ditch being COW
. cred, about 30 of the ants sought safe
ty on large clod Of earth. At first
they were scattered about over the
highest part of the little mound and to
all appearances were Indifferent as to
their surroundings.
After q little one of the number pro-
ceeded leisurely around the little Is
land. and after finishing the circuit 1t
hurried back to its companions. 1t APP
peared that they then for the first time
realized that they We're surrounded by
water. The survey was repeated sew
eral times in quick succession. The
group Of ants gathered more closely to-
gether aud seemed to be in q state of
restless anxiety.
AS the water rose the circuit grew
less. the vigil more earnest and the ex-
element more intense with each re-
turn Of the sentinel. They rushed
about over each other in a terrible
state of agitation, for the water was
rapidly approaching. There was now
hardly room for them to stand on-just
little white. and that would be soon
under water. They ceased struggling.
settled down into motionless inactivity
and seemed entirely resigned to their
fate
picked up little stick and laid it
across the water to the point where
the ants were. They seemed daZed
and did not instantly take advantage
of the means Of escape afforded them.
One then crawled hurriedly up on the
stick and went it's length out and over
the blades Of grass on to the dry land.
Without a seconds hesitation he turn
ed and retraced his steps back to his
companions. Now the smallest one Of
the group returned with him to dry
land. They both retraced their steps,
and the work Of rescue began. The
rest seemed passive, entirely subservi-.
ent to the will of these two. Each.
with companion. FASTENED out to
place Of safety. a~ssEs. .iE5.s Il
The small one was much the more
active, she rescuing about three to the
larger's two. Time was precious. as
the water was rapidly rising. 1t would
soon be running around. the outer end
of the stick. and the island was melt
ing away. One by one they were TAX
en- out, the guide accompanying the
curity. Why they did not all follow
the first one out when he returned puz-
zled me, but they did not. The smaller
ant now hurried forth with the last
one. Still he was not content and rush.
ed back in search Of others. .r.
The little hillock was now melted
away, and he turned to seek safety for
himself. He did not seem as much con-
cerned as before. He did not hasten
on as when conscious of rescuing 9TH
ers. The water was running around
the stick. The last avenue of escape
seemed closed to him forever. He went
to the highest point and settled down
perfectly still. His previous conduct
convinced me that he now fully real
lied that the case was hopeless as far
as he was concerned. ...-.
Must the bravest of them all thus die
when he could have easily made his es-
cape long ago? He willingly risked his
own life that he might save others.
Could more genuine example of hero
ism be found in human annals? Could
a more striking example of brotherly
love and unselfish devotion be shown?
Could a more earnest solicitude for the
life of others be instanced? l think
not. Within his own power this little
insect had no possible means of escape.
He did not fear death; neither did he
die, but he was last to escape.
/ lifted the stick from the water and
laid it on the ground. He crawfed hur-
riedly away to his companions, whom
he had so recently torn from the grasp
of death. Whatever l may have done
for them, can but feel that in this ex-
ample the little hero ant did much
more for me.-St. Louis Globe-Demo
crat.
Where We Get Caviare.
Caviare is consumed in large quanti-
ties all over the Russian empire. 1t is