The Processionary : the Procession 



There is reason to believe that the Proces- 

 sionaries who have lost their way on the ledge 

 will find a chance of safety here. Let us 

 watch them. On recovering from their tor- 

 por, the two groups line up by degrees into 

 two distinct files. There are therefore two 

 leaders, free to go where they please, inde- 

 pendent of each other. Will they succeed in 

 leaving the enchanted circle? At the sight of 

 their large black heads swaying anxiously 

 from side to side, I am inclined to think so 

 for a moment. But I am soon undeceived. 

 As the ranks fill out, the two sections 

 of the chain meet and the circle is recon- 

 stituted. The momentary leaders once more 

 become simple subordinates; and again the 

 caterpillars march round and round all 

 day. 



For the second time in succession, the night, 

 which is very calm and magnificently starry, 

 brings a hard frost. In the morning the Pro- 

 cessionaries on the tub, the only ones who 

 have camped out unsheltered, are gathered 

 into a heap which largely overflows both sides 

 of the fatal ribbon. I am present at the 

 awakening of the numbed ones. The first to 

 take the road is, as luck will have it, outside 



79 



