is restored to strength by
copious draughts of a drug the nature of which I have been unable to
discover. Meanwhile, another has picked up the fallen weapon, and the
contest is continued without a moment's interruption. The Ball makes
frantic efforts to escape from its tormentors, but every time it is
captured and flung back. So far as can be observed, it makes no attempt
at retaliation, its only object being to get away; though,
occasionally--whether by design or accident--it succeeds in inflicting
injury upon one or other of its executioners, or more often upon one of
the spectators, striking him either on the head or about the region of
the waist, which, judging by results, would appear, from the Ball's point
of view, to be the better selection. These small reddish Balls are
quickened into life evidently by the heat of the sun; in the cold season
they disappear, and their place is taken by a much larger Ball. This
Ball the champions kill by striking it with their feet and with their
heads. But sometimes they will attempt to suffocate it by falling on it,
some dozen of them at a time.

"Another of these seemingly harmless enemies of the human race is a small
white Ball of great cunning and resource. It frequents sandy districts
by the sea coast and open spaces near the large towns. It is pursued
with extraordinary animosity by a florid-faced insect of fierce aspect
and rotundity of figure. The weapon he employs is a long stick loaded
with metal. With one blow he will send the creature through the air
sometimes to a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile; yet so vigorous is
the constitution of these Balls that it will fall to earth apparently but
little damaged. It is followed by the rotund man accompanied by a
smaller insect carrying spare clubs. Though hampered by the prominent
whiteness of its skin, the extreme smallness of this Ball often enables
it to defy re-discovery, and at such times the fury of the little round
man is terrible to contemplate. He dances round the spot where the ball
has disappeared, making frenzied passes at the surrounding vegetation
with his club, uttering the while the most savage and bloodcurdling
growls. Occasionally striking at the small creature in fury, he will
miss it altogether, and, having struck merely the air, will sit down
heavily upon the ground, or, striking the solid earth, will shatter his
own club. Then a curious thing takes place: all the other insects
stand