THIRD BATTLE WITH EYELESS ROBBERS 241 



afraid to tell the number of eggs, for I don't believe any 

 one would believe me. 



FLORENCE. You'll tell somebody, and you might as 

 well begin on friends. 



CECIL. There were about thirty eggs in each small 

 bunch that an ant carried, and I counted 110 loads. This 

 would make 3,300 eggs. My figures are low, for I'm sure 

 some of the big bunches had fifty eggs in each. 



DOROTHY. No wonder our ants are building an annex 

 to their house. 



FLORENCE. Were all the ants loaded with eggs or 

 did some carry other things? 



CECIL. There were about twenty guards to every egg- 

 carrier. Of course, this included all ants that were return- 

 ing to make another trip, for they would be guards also in 

 ease of danger almost an army for each bunch of eggs. 

 The few babies were carried along with the eggs. 



ALBERT. By this time I had come up, and the ants 

 were starting in to carry the 12,000 seeds back to the old 

 home. 'They are making a mistake, for the grain will 

 sprout. The nest isn't dry yet. But I suppose they are 

 like I am can't wait. 



FLORENCE. Were there any guards with the grain 

 carriers ? 



ALBERT. None, except the ants that were returning 

 for other loads. Every ant carried a seed. Of course, they 

 carried home the oats first their largest and best grain, I 

 think. 



DOROTHY. Any trouble on the trail? 



CECIL. Plenty of it. The trail led right across an old 

 Acrobat home full of ants and with half a hundred kings 

 and queens in it. Maybe you think the Acrobats didn't 



