THE ANT. 



Attention of both soldiers and labourers. 



makes the vibrating noise before mentioned. 

 A loud hiss instantly issues from the inside of 

 the dome, and all the subterraneous caverns and 

 passages. That this hiss proceeds from the la- 

 bourers is apparent; for, at every signal of this 

 kind, they work with redoubled quickness and 

 alacrity. A renewal of the attack, however, in- 

 stantly changes the scene. On the first stroke> 

 the labourers run into the many pipes and galle- 

 ries with which the building is perforated, which 

 they do so quickly that they seem to vanish; 

 for, in a few seconds, all are gone, and the sol- 

 diers rush out as numerous and as vindictive as 

 before. On finding no enemy,- they return again 

 leisurely into the hill ; and, very soon after, the 

 labourers appear loaded as at first, as active, and 

 as sedulous, with soldiers here and there among 

 them, who act just in the same manner, one or 

 other of them giving the signal to hasten the bu- 

 siness. Thus the pleasure of seeing them come 

 out to fight or to work alternately, may be ob- 

 tained as often as curiosity excites, or time per- 

 mits; and it will certainly be found that the one 

 order never attempts to fight, nor the other to 

 work, let the emergency be ever so great. 



The task of exploring the interior parts of a 

 nest or hill, would be attended with much diffi- 

 culty} for the apartments which surround the 

 royal chamber and the nurseries,. and, indeed, the 

 \vhole fabric, have such a dependence on eacU 

 other, that the breaking of one arch generally 



