CHAPTER III 



THE BUILDING OF THE CITY 



7T1HEY are noble workers/' began Uncle Paul, 

 A "Many a time, when the morning sun be- 

 gins to warm up, I have taken pleasure in observing 

 the activity that reigns around their little mounds 

 of earth, each with its summit pierced by a hole for 

 exit and entrance. 



"There are some that come from the bottom of 

 this hole. Others follow them, and still more, on and 

 on. They carry between their teeth a tiny grain of 

 earth, an enormous weight for them. Arrived at 

 the top of the mound, they let their burden fall, and 

 it rolls over the slope, and they immediately descend 

 again into their well. They do not play on the way, 

 or stop with their companions to rest a while. Oh! 

 no : the work is urgent, and they have so much to do ! 

 Kach one arrives, serious, with its grain of earth, de- 

 posits it, and descends in search of another. What 



they so busy about! 



"They are building a subterranean town, with 

 streets, squares, dormitories, storehouses; they are 

 hollowing out a dwelling-place for themselves and 

 their family. At a depth where rain cannot pene- 

 trat' tlioy dig the oarlli and pinvr it with galleries, 



which lengthen into long communicating streets, sub- 



11 



