CHAPTER X 



IN FOG AND DARKNESS — ^A RAID BY ANTS DEPARTURE FROM 



LONG PELABAN — ^AN EXCITING PASSAGE RETURN TO 



TANDJONG SELOR 



During April and the first half of May the weather 

 was warm with very little rain, though at times thunder 

 was heard at a distance. But during the second half 

 of May thunder and lightning in the evening was the 

 usual occurrence, with an occasional thunder-clap at 

 close quarters. At night it rained continually though 

 not heavily, but this was accompanied by a dense fog 

 which did not clear away until nine o'clock in the 

 morning. When the dark clouds gathered about sun- 

 set, it was not with exactly cheerful feelings that I an- 

 ticipated the coming night. My tent stood at a little 

 distance from the rest of the camp, for the reason that 

 solitude at times has its charms. When the lamp out- 

 side the tent door was extinguished, and all was en- 

 veloped in darkness and fog to an overwhelming degree, 

 a feeling of loneliness and desolation stole over me, though 

 it soon left me when I thought of the glories of the com- 

 ing day, when all the rain would be forgotten. 



Shortly after sunset one evening scores of thousands of 

 ants descended upon me while supper was in progress. 

 In the dim light afforded by the lamp I had not perceived 

 their approach until I felt them around my feet. Upon 



looking about, I discovered to my astonishment that the 



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