The Glenwood post., 1924-02-21

close. in fact, that they swirled about
these extremities as host, following q
valley, doubles some rocky Ell Captain.
Peter 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
were marching one way, then he saw
that the movement was a double one.
Hundreds of thousands of the small
carapaced creatures were marching
from the hole to the hedge; but az
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 q
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 1t high in their man
dibles for short exhausting runs, or
dragging 1t flercely after them; over
sticks that were great logs to them,
or 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
grain-the grain, the life spark, the
existence itself Of this agitated ma
tion.
Peter ran 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 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, fercely 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 hesi-
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. 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 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 intervened
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 fu-
ture generations. Down there, at
sacriflcial death; down there, under
ground, a 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 her
to share his emotion. Look at the
ants"
There was Z moments silence up
there. Then: "Antsl / should think
thers werel Why. they'll get into
the housei Let's kill themi"
He stretched out his hand and
turned his fingers around the broom
handle. SECT down here with me and
look" he said. TITS an extraordinary
sight. It's like sodom, Babylon, At
lAntis all rolled into onei"
"Yes-and they'll be In the pantry
next It'll be Babylon In the pantry.
Come{et's sweep them OF"
The broom stirred IN his hand; he
detained II. Don't. Thay are the
survivors Of terrible disaster. They
have seen thousands Of Their mates
swept to horrible death. The. are
safe. bearing with them the fu,ure