THE PINE PROCESSIONARY 135 



known ground. He reaches the top of the rim and de- 

 scends upon the other side of the earth in the vase. He 

 is followed by six others, no more. Perhaps the rest of 

 the troop, who have not fully recovered from their noc- 

 turnal torpor, are too lazy to bestir themselves. 



The result of this brief delay is a return to the old 

 track. The caterpillars embark on the silken trail and 

 the circular march is resumed, this time in the form of 

 a ring with a gap in it There is no attempt, however, 

 to strike a new course on the part of the guide whom this 

 gap has placed at the head. A chance of stepping out- 

 side the magic circle has presented itself at last; and he 

 does not know how to avail himself of it. 



As for the caterpillars who have made their way to the 

 inside of the vase, their lot is hardly improved. They 

 climb to the top of the palm, starving and seeking for 

 food. Finding nothing to eat that suits them, they re- 

 trace their steps by following the thread which they have 

 left on the way, climb the ledge of the pot, strike the 

 procession again and, without further anxiety, slip back 

 into the ranks. Once more the ring is complete, once 

 more the circle turns and turns. 



Then when will the deliverance come? There is a 

 legend that tells of poor souls dragged along in an endless 

 round until the hellish charm is broken by a drop of 

 holy water. What drop will good fortune sprinkle on 

 my Processionaries to dissolve their circle and bring them 

 back to the nest? I see only two means of conjuring 

 the spell and obtaining a release from the circuit These 



