Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-03-29

many were marching from the hedge
70 the hole; they threaded their wav
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 a
character of panic and dismay; that.
had this multitude not been denied
voice, a great confused clamor would
De rising to his high-perched ear.
VI these Fastening from the vicinity
OF the excavation, every one was
iauen. Carrying it high in their man.
ulples for short exhausting runs, or
dragging it fiercely after them: over
SUCKS mat were great logs to them.
VI peoples that were Himalayas; skirt
ing or piercing clumps of grass which
were 1mpenetrable jungle, they bore
each a small whitish thing which
looked like a grain, which, in fact was
eraln-the grain, the life spark, the
existence itself of this agitated ma
ton.
refer ran a glance backward over
tnelr march and found it's 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 a
"lld-oat straw. Out of them, cease
lessly, in constant trickle, they ap-
peared into the sunlight, carrying on
nlgn before them, as the monk does
the cross, the sacred larva; or, back
Ing up. f1ercely snatching it along
after them. Here those Of the army
VINO marched the reverse way, and
which all were without burden, met
those that were coming out and, let
ting them pass, after q 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-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 filling the ex-
cavation dug in the garden, from be.
low had established communication
with the city of the ants. It 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 Its 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 fu-
ture OF the race, the grains which
were the concentrated promise of fl-
ture generations. Down there, at
every heart beat, thousands died q
sacrificial death; down there, under
ground, great holocaust was taking
place, made splendid by a myriad
heroisms. Peter became much excited
But 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 hel
to share his emotion. Look at the
ants"
There was moments silence up
there. Then: "Ants! 1 should think
there were! Why, they'll get into
the house! Let's kill them!"
He 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.
lantis all rolled into one"
"Yes-and they'll be In the pantry
next It'll be Babylon in the pantry.
Come-let's sweep them off,"
The broom stirred In his hand; he
detained 1t. Don't. They are the
survivors of a 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, it would be
as If men escaped from a city de.
stroyed by food, standing at last on
high ground, naked, exhausted, but
alive, saw now upon them the noun.
tain fallingw
1T won't be mountain" she said
1T will be broom
Hold on; wait" he pleaded hur'
riedly, trying more intimate appeal
Let me watch them. Daisy-wait-
I'm getting something out Of It! Lei
me watch til"
But the broom was now out of his
hand, and in three. four scythe-like
strokes the thing was done. OF the
broad rusty-red ribbon of carapaced
pullulating life stretched across the
drive. there was nothing left but, here
and there. lone. squirming small spoi
indented into the ground; and On the
.SurfRce Of the water in the excava.
ton Sim made of dust. dead and
mangled ants, and eggs.
She was, momentarily. startled on,
Of her propriety.
"Oh, ne!" she exclaimed.
Il will If yeu say so. He's a smar.
alick and he'd ought to be licked
But-but, honest, do wish you'd take
this thing. 'Twould look nice on you
and-and I amt got nobody Of my own