79 



This new red ant sat there for a long time 

 getting its breath and strength after its imprison- 

 ment. Even after it seemed quite itself, however, 

 it still made no effort to stir about or help the 

 others. 



Presently Nipper, who by this time was as busy 

 as the best of them, spoke to the red ant as she 

 passed by. " Don't you think it's time to bestir 

 yourself and set to work ? " she asked. 



The red ant stared at her but made no answer. 

 Nipper's black friend drew her hastily away. 

 " Hush ! hush ! " she whispered. " Don't you 

 know any better than to say such a thing to her ? 

 She is one of our mistresses." 



"One of our mistresses!" echoed Nipper in 

 surprise. 



Her friend looked at her pityingly. " My poor 

 little ant, " she said ; " don't you know you are 

 nothing but a slave ? A little black slave ? " 

 " No, I didn't know that ?" 



" Well, you are. And off beyond there, in the 

 larger rooms, live our mistresses, all big red ants 

 like that one. All we are here for is to wait on 

 them, to feed them and keep their houses in order, 

 and to take care of their young." 



