BRUTE NEIGHBORS. 
217 
all the tumblings on that field never for an instant 
ceased to gnaw at one of his feelers near the root, hav¬ 
ing already caused the other to go by the board; while 
the stronger black one dashed him from side to side, 
and, as I saw on looking nearer, had already divested 
him of several of his members. They fought with more 
pertinacity than bull-dogs. Neither manifested the 
least disposition to retreat. It was evident that their 
battle-cry was Conquer or die. In the mean while 
there came along a single red ant on the hill-side of this 
valley, evidently full of excitement, who either had de¬ 
spatched his foe, or had not yet taken part in the battle; 
probably the latter, for he had lost none of his limbs; 
whose mother had charged him to return with his shield 
or upon it. Or perchance he was some Achilles, who 
had nourished his wrath apart, and had now come to 
avenge or rescue his Patroclus. He saw this unequal 
combat from afar,—for the blacks were nearly twice 
the size of the red,—he drew near with rapid pace till 
he stood on his guard within half an inch of the com¬ 
batants ; then, watching his opportunity, he sprang upon 
the black warrior, and commenced his operations near 
the root of his right fore-leg, leaving the foe to select 
among his own members; and so there were three unit¬ 
ed for life, as if a new kind of attraction had been in¬ 
vented which put all other locks and cements to shame. 
I should not have wondered by this time to find that 
they had their respective musical bands stationed on 
some eminent chip, and playing their national airs the 
while, to excite the slow and cheer the dying combat¬ 
ants. I was myself excited somewhat even as if they 
had been men. The more you think of it, the less the 
difference. And certainly there is not the fight recorded 
