there till he was cut in pieces and fell to the ground, and another and another would spring to take his place to meet the same fate.  Dozens fought together—­heads, legs, and bodies intertwining in an indistinguishable mass, each held in a savage grip that only loosened in death.  A dozen devoted themselves to certain death for the chance of killing a single antagonist.  Surely such desperate bravery, such generous heroism, deserved to gain a victory!

“But there was a sudden rush, a break in the ranks, and, lo! the little people were running back to the city,—­back in all haste,—­if, by any possibility, they might save from the victor’s clutch the treasures they prized most.  But what availed their efforts?  The enemy was close behind them, forcing their way through the main entrance and the side gates, till the whole army was pouring into the devoted city.

“Can you imagine the scene that followed?  The queen-mother and the young princes and princesses were left undisturbed in their apartments, but into every other house in the city, the rude soldiers rushed, searching for the poor babies.  Many of them their nurses had hidden away, hoping that in the confusion their hiding-places would not be discovered; but the cunning fellows—­old hands some of them at the business—­seemed to know just where to look.  Hundreds and hundreds of little ones were captured that day.  The faithful attendants clasped and clung to them, suffering themselves to be torn in pieces before giving them up, but the sacrifice was in vain.

“The moon shone down that night upon a ghastly scene.  The dead and dying strewed the ground, and the avenues leading to the city were choked with the slain.  Hundreds of homes were made desolate, that only the night before were full of peaceful content.

“Meanwhile, the conquering army, laden with spoils, after another difficult and toilsome journey had reached their home.  The captive babies were consigned to the care of slaves, procured long ago in a similar way, and who, apparently contented and happy, for they knew no other life, devoted all their energies to the service of their captors.

“Well, it is an old story.  Ever since the world began the strong have oppressed the weak,—­and ants or men, for greed or gold, will do their neighbors wrong.”

“Well,” said Mollie, as Miss Ruth laid down the last sheet of her manuscript, “if you hadn’t told us beforehand that it was ants you were going to read about I should certainly have thought they were people.  Don’t they act for all the world just like folks? and who would ever think such little creatures could be so wise!”

“What I want to know,” said Susie, “is, If the ant-cities are underground, how can any one see what goes on in them?”

“That is easily managed,” Miss Ruth answered.