68 ANTS AND CHILDREN OF THE GARDEN 



up, down, sidewise, just like a cannon. 



FLORENCE. Yes, but tell it all. Our ants wouldn't 

 give up, and finally got hold of the bug and dragged it, 

 Acrobats and all, into the house. 



DOROTHY. I don't like the Acrobats, because they are 

 always snooping around in other ants' business. 



CECIL. But they know a lot. The Acrobats were com- 

 ing home on a long trail, one at a time. I placed a crushed 

 one on the runway, a foot from the door. 



DOROTHY. Well? 



CECIL. The first traveler to come up to the crushed 

 ant examined it carefully, turned and went back up the 

 trail six inches, and there stopped stone still, never moving 

 a foot for twenty-five minutes. 



DOROTHY. Go on. 



CECIL. The other Acrobats came down the trail, one 

 about every minute, and each was halted by the guard. 

 After crossing feelers for a few seconds, each traveler 

 turned and went back. Twenty-five ants did this before I 

 had to leave for school. Now isn't that wonderful? 



DOROTHY. Yes. 



CECIL. Of course the guard told the other ants that a 

 murder had been committed, and that they had better turn 

 and go back. Those going back met others coming in, but 

 did not tell them the news. I have seen Acrobats do this 

 same thing several times. 



FLORENCE. Tell us more about the habits of this ant, 



CECIL. It's no use. Just remember all that was said 

 about the Carpenter and all that will be said about the 

 Carpenter. Their habits are very much the same. 



KENNETH. I dropped a wounded Acrobat down her 

 own stairway. Then I dropped one of our ants in and held 

 my finger on the door for a minute. Our ant rushed out, 



