DOOR-STEP NEIGHBORS 59 



few hours in that day — though the same events 

 were seen in frequent repetition at intervals for 

 months. Perhaps the most conspicuous objects 

 — if, indeed, a hole can be considered an " object " 

 — were those two ever-present features of every 

 trodden path and bare spot of earth anywhere, 

 ant-tunnels and that other circular burrow, about 

 the size of a quill, usually associated, and which is 

 also commonly attributed to the ants. 



As I sat upon my stone step that morning, I 

 counted seven of these smooth clean holes within 

 close range, three of them hardly more than an 

 inch apart. They penetrated beyond the vision, 

 and were evidently very deep. Knowing from 

 past experience the wary tenant which dwelt with- 

 in them, I adjusted myself to a comfortable atti- 

 tude, and remaining perfectly motionless, awaited 

 developments. After a lapse of possibly five min- 

 utes, I suddenly discovered that I could count but 

 five holes ; and while recounting to make sure, 

 moving my eyes as slowly as possible, my numera- 

 tion was cut short at four. In another moment 

 two more had disappeared, and the remaining two 

 immediately followed in obscurity, until no ves- 

 tige of a hole of any kind was to be seen. The 

 ground appeared absolutely level and unbroken. 

 Were it not for the circular depression, or " door- 



