Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-05-04

o eAtrehities as host, following
vaiiey' doubles some rocky Ell Capitan
refer hastily Withdrew his feet knaa,.
ing down, stretching his rather long
Neck ne proceeded to observe what
was happening.
Across the drive, from the excava-
ZION OF which Peters fancy had made
iaKe, from that hole to the hedoo
tne ants stretched, broad rustv-rad
RIBBON. At first Peter Thought tbav
were marching one way, then he saw
that the movement was a double one
Hundreds Of thousands Of the small
carapaced creatures were marching
iion the mole to the hedge; but as
many were marching from the hedge
10 the hole; they threaded their wav
IN and out Of each others course, the
Two movements interpenetrated each
olhef. AND bringing his long nose still
lower. Peter saw that all this had
CHARACTER OF panic and dismay; that,
mad this multitude not been denied
voice, great confused clamor would
be rising to his high-perched ear.
OF these Fastening from the vicinity
OF the excavation, every one was
laden Carrying 1t high in their man.
oioies for short exhausting runs, or
Dragging 1t fercely after them; over
SUCKS mat were great logs to them,
OF PEBBLES that were Himalayas; skirt
ing or piercing clumps of grass which
were impenetrable jungle, they bore
each small whitish thing which
looked like grain, which. In fact was
graln-the grain, the life spark, the
existence itself of this agitated ma
ton.
Peter ran a glance backward over
their march and found Its starting
| point The ants had all emerged.
they were emerging, from five small
holes near the excavation; five little
| holes smaller than the hollow Of
wildcat straw. Out of them. cease
lessly, In a constant trickle, they ap-
peared into the sunlight, carrying on
high before them, as the monk does
the cross, the sacred larva; or back
Ing up, fiercely snatching it along
| after them. Here those of the army
who marched the reverse way, and
which all were without burden. met
those that were coming out and, let
ting them pass, after a moments hest
tation during which they seemed to be
calling to themselves all their cour-
age, resolutely plunged head first down
fy,tN h. De-
He was the witness, the god-like wit
ness of just such catastrophe as, In
the tenebrous past, again and again
had nearly wiped out his own kind
The water which was filing the ex-
cavation dug in the garden, from be-
low had established communication
with the city of the ants. 1t was ris-
ing slowly down in there; slowly, mys-
teriously, inexorably; filling the low
est chambers, rising along the gal
leries, bursting into halls; and the pop
ulation, in mute uproar, was fleeing
its crumbling city, hugging tight to It.
self It's life kernel.
Peters heart thumped and his
brain famed. He saw clearly the. great
underground city, its vast halls and
dim secret chambers, its interviewed
galleries vibrant with peril and disas-
ter He heard the sullen roar Of sud-
den inrushing waters. Walls fell In
large flakes, ceilings collapsed, floors
sucked in, and thousand upon thou
sand every second died. He saw the
stubborn citizens, in this immense dis
solution of all they had ever been
sure of, tenaciously toiling to snatch
from this cataclysmic threat the flu
ture of the race, the grains which
were the concentrated promise Of flu
ture generations. Down there, at
every heart beat, thousands died a
sacridciaI death down there, under
ground, a great holocaust was taking
place. made splendid by a myriad
herofsms. Peter became much excited;
But a broom, big, capable garden |
broom now planted itself down at his
side: and without looking at more
than the broom, which he could see
out OF the corner Of his eye, he knew
that his wife was standing by.
Look, Daisy" he said, inviting her
TO share his emotion. Look at the
ants"
There was a moments silence up
there. Then: "Ants I should think
there werel Why, they'll get into
tbe house, Let's kin theml"
He stretched out his hand and
turned his fingers around the broom
handle. Get down here with me ana
look" he said. "It's an extraordinary
sight. It's like Sodom, Babylon, At
lantis all rolled into one|
"Yes-and they'll be in the pantry
next. TN be Babylon In the pantry.
sweep them on
The broom stirred in bis hand; ne
II. "DOnt They are the
survivors Of a terrible disaster. They
nave seen thousands OF their mates
swept 10 horrible death, They are
ssfe bearing with them the future