226 JUNGLE PEACE 



the edge of the pit innumerable ants were con- 

 stantly running, trying, on their part, to find a 

 way down. The single ant communicated at 

 once with all which came past, and without hesi- 

 tation a mass of the insects formed at this spot 

 and began to work downward. This could be 

 done only by clinging one to the other; but 

 more and more clambered down this living lad- 

 der, until it swayed far out over the vastness 

 of the pit, three inches in length. I had never 

 lost sight of the small worker, who had turned 

 on his tracks and was now near the bottom of 

 the ladder, reaching wildly out for some sup- 

 port ant, grass, or sand. I was astonished to 

 see that, as the length and consequent weight 

 of the dangling chain increased, the base support 

 was correspondingly strengthened. Ant after 

 ant settled itself firmly on the sand at the top, 

 until a mat of insects had been formed, spread 

 out like animate guy-ropes. 



At last the ultimate ant in the rope touched 

 the upraised jaws of the soldier far below. The 

 contact acted like an electric shock. The far- 

 thest ant in the guy-rope gang quivered with 

 emotion, a crowd of ants climbed down and an- 

 other up, and bits of insect and spider prey 



