The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-06-29

| S passing CioSe 10 MS teSt, so
close, In fact, that they swirIed ebSut
these extremities as host. following
valley, doubles some rocky FL Captain.
reter hastily withdrew his feet kneel-
ing down, stretching his rather long
neck, he proceeded to observe what
was happening.
Across the drive, from the excava-
ton OF which Peters fancy had made
lake, from that hole to the hedge
the ants stretched, broad rusty-red
+ ribbon. At first Peter thought they
We're marching one way. then he saw
that the movement was double one
hundreds of thousands of the small
carapaced creatures were marching
from the hole to the hedge but as
many were marching from the hedge
TO the hole; they threaded their way
IN and out of each others course the
TWO movements interpenetrated each
other. And bringing his long nose still
lower, Peter saw that all this had
character Of panic and dismay !, that,
had 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 it high in their man.
dlhles for short exhausting runs. or
dragging Il fiercely after them; over
sticks that were great logs to them,
or pebbles that We're Himalayas; skirt
l..
ing or piercing clumps of grass which
were impenetrable jungle, they bore
each a small whitish thing which
looked Ike grain, which, in fact was
grain-the grain, the life spark. the
existence Itself of this agitated ma
ton.
Feter ran glance backward over
their march and found its starting
point The ants had all emerged,
they were emerging, from five small
hoies near the excavation; five little
holes smaller than the hollow of
wildcat straw. Out of them, cease
iessly, In 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, fiereely snatching 1t 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 moments hest.
tation during which they seemed to be
calling to themselves all their cour-
age, resolutely plunged head first down
into the earth. Peter now understood.
He was the witness. the god-llke wilt
ness of Just such catastrophe as. In
the tenebrous past, again and again
had nearly wiped out his own kind.
The water which was filling the ex-
caVatlon dug in the garden, from be-
low had established communication
with the city of the ants. 1t was rls-
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, hugglug tight to It
self It's life kernel
Peters heart thumped and his
brain famed He snw 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 nrushIng waters Walls fell in
large fakes, ceilings collapsed, aoors
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, tcnaClously toiling TO snatch
from this cataclysmie threat the flu
tire OF the race, the grains which
We're the concentrated promise Of. fu-
ture generations, Down there, at
every heart beat, thousands died a
SacriHcial death: down there, under
ground. great holocaust WAS taking
place. made splendid by q myriad
heroisms. Peter became much excited;
But broom, a his, capable garden
broom now planted itself down Mt 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 <aid, inviting her
to share his emotion. Look at the
ants"
There was moments silence up
there Then ANTS | should think
there were Why. they'll get into
the house, Let's XIII them !"
lie stretched out his hand and
turned his fingers around the broom
handle Get down here with me and
look" he said ITS an extraordinary
sight It's like Sodom Babylon, At
lantls all rolled into one -
yes and they1l be In the pantry
next nm he Babylon in the pantry.
Comedies sweep them off
The broom stirred in his hand; he
detained IT, Don't They are the
survivors Of terrible disaster They
have seen thousands Of their mates
swept to horrible death They are
safe, bearing with them the future
life of their nation. Why. il would he
Ms IL men escaped from city de-
stroyed by food. standing at last ON
high ground, naked. exhausted. hut
alive, saw now upon them the noun
tain falling"
ut won't be mountain she said.
at will be broom -
Hold on; wait" he pleaded hur-
riedly. trying q more intimate appeal.
let me watch them. Daisy watt
I'm getting something out of It Let
me watch it,
But the broom was now ont Of his.
hand, and in three, four seythe-llke
strokes the thing was done o. the
broad rusty-red ribbon Of carapaeed,
pullulating life stretched across the
drive. there was nothing left bait. here
and there. n lone. squirming small spot
indented into the ground; and on the
surface OF the water in the excava-
ton u film made Of dust, dead and
mangled ants, and eggs.
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