e out and leave me,
and then I could soon run home.

I say, up to that time I had no very serious fears for myself--excepting
the moment or two when the bull was chasing me to the hill; but that
little fright was soon over.

But now appeared a new object of dread--another enemy, as terrible as
the enraged bull--that almost caused me to spring down upon the horns of
the latter in my first moments of alarm!

I have said that the wildebeest had broken down several of the lesser
turrets--the outworks of the ant-hill--and had laid open the hollow
spaces within. He had not penetrated to the main dome, but only the
winding galleries and passages that perforate the outer walls.

I noticed, that, as soon as these were broken open, a number of ants had
rushed out from each. Indeed, I had observed many of the creatures
crawling outside the hill, when I first approached it, and had wondered
at this--as I knew that they usually keep under ground when going and
coming from their nests. I had observed all this, without taking note of
it at the time--being too intent in my stalk to think of anything else.
For the last half-hour I was too busy watching the manoeuvres of the
wildebeest bull, to take my gaze off him for a moment.

Something in motion directly under me at length caught my eye, and I
looked down to see what it was. The first glance caused me to jump to my
feet; and, as I have already said, very nearly impelled me to leap down
upon the horns of the bull!

Swarming all over the hill, already clustering upon my shoes, and
crawling still higher, were the crowds of angry ants. Every hole that
the bull had made was yielding out its throng of spiteful insects; and
all appeared moving towards me!

Small as the creatures were, I fancied I saw design in their movements.
They seemed all actuated with the same feeling--the same impulse--that
of attacking me. I could not be mistaken in their intent. They moved all
together, as if guided and led by intelligent beings; and they advanced
towards the spot on which I stood.

I saw, too, that they were the soldiers. I knew these from the workers,
by their larger heads and long horny mandibles. I knew they could bite
fiercely and painfully.

The thought filled me with horror. I confess it, I never was so
horrified before. My late encounter with the lion was nothing to compare
with it.

My first impression was that I would be destroyed by the termites. I had
heard of such things--I