SHORT STORIESOriginally fiction meant anything made up,

created, or shaped.

Today we have refined the definition to mean a prose story based on

the imagination of the author. Fiction writers may imitate the forms of

nonfiction or use true or historically accurate details in their stories.

At the same time. they write not to re-create reality but to entertain

and perhaps to comment on human existence.

One of the most popular forms of fiction.the short story was first

defined by Edgar Allan Poe. He was sure that worldly interests’

prevented most readers from concentrating on reading. He felt that a

short, concentrated tale that could be read in one sitting and that

created a single, powerful impression wasthe best type of fiction.

Today, innumerable writers have followedPoe’s recommendations,

creating stories on a vast array of subjects. For instance, this unit

includes short stories ranging from a tale of three wishes to a story of

an empty house after a nuclear war.

As opposed to other types of fiction, shortstories are character

ized by a limited number of characters, restricted settings, and a

narrow range of action. Short stories, however, share common ele

ments with other forms. Seven of those elements are examined in

this unit—plot, characterization, point of view, setting, symbols, tone

and irony, and theme. Plot refers to the series of events that make up

the story. Characterization is the creation ofreasonable facsimiles of

human beings with all their warts and smiles. Point of view is the

perspective of the story, the voice or speaker who is doing the narrat

ing. Setting refers to the natural or artificial environment in which the

story takes place. A symbol may be understood to mean something

beyond itself. Every short story has a tone, or attitude, that the writer

conveys toward the story itself and towardyou, the reader. A special

element sometimes used in creating tone is irony, in which writers

use language or situations that are the opposite of what is expected.

Finally, theme is what the short story revealsabout life, the central

idea presented throughout the work.

These, then, are the major tools short story writers have at their

disposal. Understanding the elements of the story will help you dis

cover the author’s intentions and what is being said about life and the

human experience. Although you, the reader, might be studying one

of the elements, it is important to realize that a short story is unified,

that all elements happen at once in the tale. As you read, consider

the whole as well as the parts.

READING ACTIVELY

A short story is fiction—a work of literature in which the characters and events are created by the author. Fiction allows you toexplore new worlds, share joys and sorrows of characters, and learnfrom their experiences.

Reading short stories is an active process. It is a process inwhich you envision what is happening in the story and derive meaning from the picture you are envisioning. You do this through the following active-reading strategies:

On pages 3—13 youwill see an example of active reading by MarleneSanchez of Onate HighSchool in Las Cruces, NewMexico. The notes in theside column include Marlene’s thoughts and comments as she read ‘Gamesat Twilight.’ Your ownthoughts as you read thestory may be differentbecause each reader responds differently to a story.

What questions come to mind as you are reading?For example, why do the characters act as they do? What causesevents to happen? Why does the writer include certain information?Look for answers to your questions as you read.

Use details from the story to create a picture in yourmind, As you read along, change your picture as the story unfoldsand your understanding grows, If you find yourself confused, try tostate your confusion. Use your visualization to clarify whatever hasn’tbeen clear to you.

What do you think will happen? Look for hints in thestory that seem to suggest a certain outcome. As you read on, youwill see if your predictions are correct.

Bring your own experience and knowledge to thestory. Make connections with what you know about similar situationsor people in your life.Also make connections between one event and another in the

story. Try to summarize how all the pieces of the story fit together.

Think about what the story means. What does it say

to you? What feelings does it evoke in you2 What has the storyadded to your understanding of people and of life in general7

Try to use these strategIes as you read the stories in this Liflit.

The strategies will help you increase your understanding and enjoyment of literature.

2 Short (orics

GUmE FOR READIINGLeiningen Versus the Ants

A short story generally contains a conflict, which is a struggle

between opposing forces. A conflict can be internal or external. An

internal conflict takes place within a character, as he or she strug

gles with opposing feelings, beliefs, or needs. An external conflict

is one that occurs between two or more characters or between a

character and a natural force.

Nature can be formidable. Hurricanes, tornadoes, tidal waves,

(1893— ) was born in Germany and has lived there allhis life. “Leiningen Versus theAnts” was first published in1938, and it has been widelyread ever since, appearing innumerous collections of shortstories. According to Stephenson’s literary agent, “Leiningen Versus the Ants” may bethe only story that Stephenson will allow to be publishedduring his lifetime.

and volcanic eruptions are just a few natural occurrences that can

devastate people and the environment in which they live. In “Leinin

gen Versus the Ants,” a natural disaster takes the form of a swarm

of ants. What natural disasters can you imagine? Draw a plot dia

gram of a story about a natural disaster. Be creative; use original

ideas that would make an intriguing story, should you decide to write

one later. The following diagram will help get you started. Use spe

cific events in yours.

Knowing the following wordsgen Versus the Ants.

(sór è nz) n.:Lizardlike animals (p. 43)

(pam’ paz) n.: Treeless plans in South Amenca(p. 45)

(pe änz) n.: Laborers inSpanish America (p 45)

(flaut) U: Show contemptfor (p. 46)

(wir) n. A low dam (p. 47)

Food (p 50)(pray n dr) n.:

( lö’ ye m) fl:Material such as sand or grave)deposited by movmg water(p. 58)

(fO mn tã’shnz) n Applications ofwarm. moist substances in thetreatment of an injury (p. 58)

climax

will help you as you read ‘Leinin

42 Short Stories

s tla’v i1ter their course.o reason v hv I hey should, they’lla. plantation ill t \V() tlavs at the

,(‘I1 -.i 1(’ked pla(’i(lIv at a (‘iga r

ize ii a (‘ )rn (‘0)) and for 1 fewtied without answering at the agi—i net ( ‘onmlissioner. Then he took

I rum his lips and leaned slightly,Vith his bristling irav hair. bulk’lucid eves, he had the look of an

ii I shabby eagle.it of von.’ he murmured. ‘pad

this way just to give me the tip. But‘tiling my leg. of course, when von

—.1 do a bunk. Why, even a herd of‘ouldn’t drive me from this plantane.,i’azilian omcial threw up lean and‘s and clawed the air with wildlyljngers. “Leiningen!” he

• ‘you’re insane! They’re noton can fight—they’re an

ta an ‘act of God!’ Teng, two miles wide—hing hut ants!n single one ofnd fromC von

can 5101 irec’ t line. t Iu’Hi tat a icill-grownhciflalo 10 tIne 1)0110 • I t< II von it \0ti (10111

clear out at ain’t [bert—Il be tmtininy left ofvon but a skeleton picked a’— cleati as yourown plant at ion’’

F ‘ ‘ - ‘‘- TW

—

Leiningen Veius cie \itf1 Sty fl, Hs TI

‘V

Leiningen grinned. ‘Act of God. my eve

Anvvav. I’m not going to run for it just

because an elemental’s on the way. And

dont think I’m the kind of fathead who tries

to fend off lightning with his fists. either. I

use my intelligence, old man. With me, the

brain isn’t a second blind gut: I know what

it’s there for. When I began this model farm

and plantation three years ago. I took into

account all that could conceivably happen to

it. And now I’m ready for anything and

everything—including your ants.”The Brazilian rose heavily to his feet.

“I’ve done my best.” he gasped. “Your obstinacy endangers not only yourself, but thelives of your four hundred workers. Youdon’t know these ants!”

Leiningen accompanied him down to theriver, where the government launch wasmoored. The vessel cast off. As it moveddownstream, the exclamation mark nearedthe rail and began waving arms frantically.Long after the launch had disappearedround the bend, Leiningen thought he couldstill hear that dimming. imploring voice.“You don’t know them. I tell you! You don’tIc flOW them!”

But the reported enemy was by no

means unfamiliar to the planter. Before hestarted work on his settlement, he had livedlong enough in the country to see for himselfthe fearful devastations sometimes wroughtby these ravenous insects in their campaigns for food. But since then he hadplanned measures of defense accordingly.and these, he was convinced, were in everyway adequate to withstand the approachingperil.

Moreover, during his three years asplanter. Leiningen had met and defeateddrought, flood. plague. and all other “acts ofGod’’ which had come against him—unlike

1. blind gut: Reference to the appendix, which noivhave no tUfl(tiOfl

his fellow settlers in the district, who hadmade little or no resistance. This unbrokensuccess he attributed solely to the observance of his lifelong root to: JIi(’ boil tOil

brain needs only to beconu’ ittllt cittaro viits powers to c’onqu’r even the elernent.s.Dullards reeled senselessly and aimlesslyinto the abyss: cranks, however brilliant.lost their heads when circumstances soddenlv altered or accelerated and ran intostone walls; sluggards drifted with the current until they were caught in whirlpools

and dragged under. But such disasters.Leiningen contended, merely st rengt henecihis argument that intelligence, directedaright, invariably makes man the master ofhis fate.

Yes, Leiningen had always known howto grapple with life. Even here, in this Brazilian wilderness, his brain had triumphedover every difficulty and danger it had so farencountered. First he had vanquished primal forces by cunning and organization.then he had enlisted the resources of modern science to increase miraculously theyield of his plantation. And now he was surehe would prove more than a match for the“irresistible” ants.That same evening, however. Leiningen

assembled his workers. He had no intention

of waiting till the news reached their ears

from other sources. Most of them had beenborn in the district: the cry. ‘‘The ants are

coming!’’ ‘as to them an impr’rat ive signal

for instant, panic-stricken flight, a spring

for life itself. But so great ‘as I lie Indians’trusi in Leiningen . in Leiningen ‘s word, and

in Lei n i ngeii ‘s wisdom, that t h cv recei veil

his (‘Urt tidings. and his orders for t lie mimi

nent struggle. with tI te calmness wit It

which they were givelt. They wait ed. ima

fraud, alert, as if for the beginning ot a flew

game or hunt, which he had iust described to

them. The ants were indeed mighty. hnt not

so mighty as the boss. Let them enme!

44 Short Stories

v came at noon the second day. Their

h was announced by the wild unrestor-es. scarcely controllable now eistO 11 or under rider. scenting fromnior insbnct with horror.- announced by a stampede of anid and savage, hurtling past eachuars and pumas flashing by nim—01 the pampas: bulky tapirs, noniers, themselves hunted. out

‘-ct kinkajous: maddened herds of‘ads lowered, nostrils snorting.brough tribes of loping monkeys,ig in a dementia2 of terror: thenhe creeping and springing deni1)050 and steppe, big and little ro:i Ices, and lizards.cli the rabble swarmed down theplantation, scattered right and leftbarrier of the water-filled ditch,

I onwards to the river, where, againhev fled along its banks out of

water-filled ditch was one of theoasures which Leiningen had longired against the advent of the‘ompassed three sides of the plana huge horseshoe. Twelve feettiot very deep. when dry it couldescribed as an obstacle to eitherast, But the ends of the “horsento the river which formed thehundary, and fourth side, of thea ,\nd at the end nearer the houseadings in the middle of the planiningen had constructed a dam byhich water from the river couldI into the ditch.by opening the dam, he was able

a imposing girdle of water. a huge:1 with the river as its base. cornad the plantation. like the moatmedieval city. Unless the ants

were clever enough to build rafts, they hadno hope of reaching the plantation, Leiningen concluded.

The twelve-foot water ditch seemed to

afford in itself all the security needed. Butwhile awaiting the arrival of the ants. Leiningen made a further improvement. Thewestern section of the ditch ran along theedge of a tamarind wood, and the branchesof some great trees reached over the water.Leiningen now had them lopped so that antscould not descend from them within the“moat.”

The women and children, then theherds of cattle, were escorted by PCOflS on

rafts over the river, to remain on the otherside in absolute safety until the plunderershad departed. Leiningen gave this instruction, not because he believed the noncombatants were in any danger. but in order toavoid hampering the efficiency of the defenders.

Finally, he made a careful inspection ofthe “inner moat”—a smaller ditch linedwith concrete, which extended around thehill on which stood the ranch house, barns,stables, and other buildings. Into this concrete ditch emptied the inflow pipes fromthree great petrol4 tanks. If by some miraclethe ants managed to cross the water andreach the plantation, this “rampart of petrol” would be an absolutely impassable protection for the besieged and their dwellingsand stock. Such. at least, was Leiningen’sopinion.

He stationed his men at irregular distances along the water ditch. the first line ofdefense. Then he lay down in his hammockand puffed drowsily away at his pipe until apeon came with the report that the ants hadbeen observed far away in the south.

S

4’

I a men sh) n, lnsarntv or madness.

3. tamarind (tam’ rind) wood: A grove of leafytrees found in the tropics.4. petrol (pet’ rl) adj.: Gasoline.

Leiningen Versus the Ants 35

—‘

l

I,(’il1iIlLiii ill(HlIit(’d his licn’se. whi(’li at

tile ted ol its master seemed to loret its

u1o’ainess. and roul’ leiNurd]v in the diree[loll oI th(’ thr(a1dli1nL Olldl)siVd. ]iie S(uth

em Stretch of dii (‘I) ——t he tipper side of thequadrilateral —was nearly (I iree miles long:from its (‘cm em one coulil survey tll(’ entirecountryside. This was destined to be thescene of I he outbreak of war bet ween Lciningen’s brain and twenty square miles oflife-destroying ants.

It was a sight one could never forget.Over the range of hills, as far as eve couldsee, crept a darkening hem, ever longer andbroader, until the shadow spread across theslope from east to west, then downward.downward, uncannily swift, and all tilegreen herbage of that wide vista was beingmown as by a giant sickle, leaving only thevast moving shadow. extending. deepening,and moving rapidly nearer.

When Leiningen ‘s men, behind theirbarrier of water. perceived the approach of

the long-expected for, they gave vent to theirsuspense in screams and imprecations. Butas tile distance began to lessen between tile‘‘sons of hell’’ and tile water ditch, theyrelapsed into si]cncc. Before the advance ofthat awe-inspiring throng. tileir belief in thepowers of the boss began to steadily dwindle.

Even Leiniligell iliflIsell, xvllo had ridden

UI) just ill time to rest ore ii iei r loss of heartby a display ot unshakable caliii, e iii hi’(‘OUld 1101 tree ilimsell troll) a qualm 01 ma—

lais ‘ioitc1er wci’e 1110usd tids of millions ofvoracious jaws be,iriiig Iowit 1(11011 him and

univ a siid i(!ilv i!lsiUllili(’,illt. iiarmw dliii)

Lu hctwccii 111111 and iii’— Rid] and beinggnawed to 1 ic bones ‘‘before von can spitI llrt’(’ tllfl(. ‘V

iladint ins boor loi once taken tilt moie1ilni it (‘i0)ll fll iiigc’? If th( blighilers de(’idccl to rdlSIi tile (111(1), fill it Id) th<’ brim withII ((9’ (V )1’l).i”.. ii ii ii still b1 illume t flail

cliii (gil to clest n v ever’ I ra(’e of that era Il -

11111 of hi.The pla nter’s chin jilt ted; t heyhad!) ‘I got him vet, and he ci see to it t l’ievnever would, While he (‘01(1(1 think at all,he’d flout both death and the devil.

The hostile army was approaching inperfect formation: no human battalions.

however well drilled, could ever hope to rivalthe precision of that advance, Along a frontthat moved forward as uniformly as astraight line, the ants drew nearer and nearer to tile water ditch. Then, when theylearned through their Scouts tue nature ofthe obstacle, the two outlying wings of thearmy detached themselves from the mainbody and marched down tile western andeastern sides of the ditch,

This surrounding maneuver took rathermore than an hour to accomplish: no doubtthe ants expected that at some point theywould find a crossing.

During this outilanking movement bytile wings. the army on tile center andsouthern front remained still. The besiegedwere therefore able to contemplate at theirleisure the thumb-long, reddish-black. long-legged insects; some of the Indians believedthey could sec. too, intent on them, tilebrilliant, cold eves. and the razor-edgedmaiidibles: of this host of infinity.

It is not easy for the average person toimagine that an animal, not to nlention an

insect. (‘all thuiik. But tiox’ both the brain ofLeiningen audi t lie brains of I lie Indiansbegan to stir wi lb the u n plea sa 111 forebodingI hat inside ever\’ single 0111’ of’ t lint deluge of

insects dwelled a thought. AIld that t hougiltwas: I)iteht or 1)0 ditch. w. ‘II get to our

flesllNot until four o’clock did till’ wings

reach the ‘ ‘ horseshoe ‘ ends of t lie (Ii tell,

OllIx’ 10 fOid those ran into the great river.

Tllrougll 501111’ kind of secret telegraphy, tilt’

5. mandibles miii’ ct lii,’ TI.: BiiiIi iii-’

46 ,Sfiii I .5L ‘t i(’’

t .nust then have flashed very swiftly.i along the entire enemy line. Andgen, riding—no longer casuallyug his side of the ditch. noticed bytic and widespread movements ofthat for some unknown reason the

ie if the check had its greatest effect onuthern front. where the main armys :assed. Perhaps the failure to find a

er the ditch was persuading the antsto v. it idraw from the plantation in search of, more easily attainable.\n immense flood of ants, about a hun

dr iards in width, was pouring in a gum•ocrng black cataract down the far slope ofthe litch. Many thousands were alreadydr ‘.ning in the sluggish creeping flow, butthee vere followed by troop after troop, who(l;1FJered over their sinking comrades, andthen themselves served as dying bridges tothe r serves hurrying on in their rear.shoals of ants were being carried away

in he current into the middle of the ditch,crc gradually they broke asunder and

th n. exhausted by their struggles, vanji ii below the surface. Nevertheless, thev. ivering, floundering hundred-yard frontw is remorselessly if slowly advancing toai the besieged on the other bank.

L ningen had been wrong when he sup-p sed the enemy would first have to fill thecltt h with their bodies before they couldcr ss; instead, they merely needed to act asst ppingstones, as they swam and sank, toii e hordes ever pressing onwards from behtd.

Near Leiningen a few mounted herds-o ii awaited his orders. He sent one to theeir—the river must be dammed morestrongly to increase the speed and power oft water coursing through the ditch.\ second peon was dispatched to the

0 douses to bring spades and petrol sprinrs. A third rode away to summon to the

/ ie of the offensive all the men, except the

observation posts. on the nearby sections ofthe ditch, which were not vet activelythreatened.

The ants were getting across far morequickly than Leiningen would have deemedpossible. Impelled by the mighty cascadebehind them, they struggled nearer andnearer to the inner bank. The momentum ofthe attack was so great that neither thetardy flow of the stream nor its downwardpull could exert its proper force: and into thegap left by every submerging insect, hastened forward a dozen more.

When reinforcements reached Leiningen. the invaders were halfway over. Theplanter had to admit to himself that it wasonly by a stroke of luck for him that the antswere attempting the crossing on a relativelyshort front: had they assaulted simultaneously along the entire length of the ditch,the outlook for the defenders would havebeen black indeed.

Even as it was, it could hardly be described as rosy, though the planter seemedquite unaware that death in a gruesomeform was drawing closer and closer. As thewar between his brain and the “act of God”reached its climax, the very shadow of annihilation began to pale to Leiningen, whonow felt like a champion in a new Olympicgame, a gigantic and thrilling contest, fromwhich he was determined to emerge victor.Such, indeed, was his aura of confidencethat the Indians forgot their fear of the perilonly a yard or two away; under the planter’ssupervision, they began fervidly digging upto the edge of the bank and throwing clods ofearth and spadefuls of sand into the midst ofthe hostile fleet.

The petrol sprinklers, hitherto used todestroy pests and blights on the plantation,were also brought into action. Streams ofevil-reeking oil now soared and fell over anenemy already in disorder through thebombardment of earth and sand.

rL

Leiningen Versus the Ants 47

Tin’ :101 10 p(;fld (1 1) 1 hese virtornhls

and sii ( cssltil hit r!P’., ((I d(’I(n’-(’ liv further ((‘\‘(O)l neil I S (1 I ) ii nfl (‘Osive Entire

(‘11111110, 1)1 l]’U(i(lmL ihls’’(’l’-. hei lii to 1(ltl

down till’ (lJ)pOS’te l)allk into the water. Athe same time. Lein ingen i-tot iced that the

ants were now attacking along an ever

widenintt front. As the numbers both of his

men and Ii is petrol spri ii k lers were severel

limi ((I this rapid ext CHS1Ofl ol ii le line ol

battle was becoming an overwhelming danger.

To add to his difficulties, the very clodsof earth they flung into that black floatingcarpet oft en wi ii ned fragments toward thedefenders’ sid and here and there darkribbons wr re already mounting the innerbank. True. wherever a man saw these theycould still he driven back ii ito the water byspadefuls of earl Ii or jets of petrol But thefile of defenders was too sparse and scattered to hold ofi at all point s these landingparties, and though the peons toiled likemad men. their plight beca nip moment lvmore perilous.

One maii struck with his spade at anenemy clump, did not draw it bark quicklyenough from the vat Cr: in a I rice the woodenha ft swarmed with u rd set irrvi u g in -

sects With a en rse hr dropped t h spadein to t he di I eh. too late. I lii were a] ready onhis ho’lv. They inst no tim hen ver theyencountered h ie flech I he lot deeply- o

te\v. biggt r t fi,m t Ii’ rest eat i (‘(1 iii I hi iF

hindquarters a s1in which iflj’( cd a burntrig and paralyzing venom S it anuitig. Iran

III \yi! h no ti. t lie is-oc (1010(11 and I wined

like : (lIryNIL’Ni’iili/iiig that aunt 11( F n( h (‘asilaltv.

\t’. l’1’l’ thii a11’!l( - iiHLht pli1n” hi’-ilien into conliusini run d’’SIr)\ t hctr nl(unale. I ,cit i irie’n not e 10 a 1 ‘cIt - In’ uder

6. dervish (1.’! i—i (In n I p- t ‘

-‘I’ I i it’ I ti

Lou 1 l1( \ t’Its 1 Iii)’ ‘I’ I ii lilt I lit pet ml.

Idlol IPi isi’ , r is nO nil! ‘1 he

dcrvsh t’caed lii’- jurotu It it transfixed.

lien lore nil ht-. ‘-I ‘ in r:i’;igi 1 ln’ arm

au-I lit ants hancinu,- 1,, 0 ut Ii lit’ shoulder

iii one of hit larpt opt n this 01 dm1 But(\‘el1 then i1,’ her’ ( ni; iuclihic’- did not

slacken: another is u11 had to help him

squash a rid dotaclu itt i separate insectI >istroet(’tl ho’ ito el iu—,’idi - some defend—

ers had turned aw v rQ’i I ut ditch. And

now cries of furs - a liii ‘cid Ylt 01 spades, anda wild tran1pliIg 10 :twh h’ slowed that (he

ants had mad hill (I e ut the interval.

though luck lv on a lu t ia’! managed to

get across ‘11w nit ri set I wot again des—

perat ely wit 11 t h barrage ot cart Ii and sa rid.Meanwhile aa old Indian. who acted as mcd—

icinc- man to the plantation wot kers. gave

the bitten peon a drink lie had prepared

some hours bclor wlnc’n lie claimed. pos

sessed the virtue of dissolving and weaken—

jug ants venom.Leiningen niurvct’euJ his iosii tonì. A dis

passionate ohsei er would Iia-’e estimated

the odds against him at a I lonsand to one.But I hen such an onlooker wotmid have reek—oiled onix’ by w hat It’ saw Ii it advance of

myriad battalions (It i’ll’- against tile futile

efforts oi a 1ev rIch lOll rs - and riot Lv the

ulllscf’ll :h(’ti\’it\ lii :t ciii o o’l in a man’s

hrain -

loi I eitung( 0 1 :11 10)1 (Hi I hcii he

Cid( tdi Cl Lu vaH(l t;gnt (‘i)ifl(iithl w’utli ele—

lil(’Iltai. Iht v’ 1’ i’ to diri 1 was begin

Tlill to ri Ito “tiougci dauuimiuig oh hit

I ncr wt’- 1110 tc I ng iI P api a I

\ish!v lii’ uitiIi ss ,iHC; p’twt r ot (lii’

niassi - of w ‘0 ui n in d swui ling into

(11111 her and ouu-k- 1)1 nut’tuu ii’- living

tilo k snrfa’t d a no gil’ tat 0 rut, carry

ih1 lii ,i\ 01cr)’ .101 11101) (1 0 , liii’ liasO hi

ll 1 i’U 10 I lit -

\i 101 in(t l) I 1 it ( lit Ii (liii hit’ yen

1:” ‘ It p V - 1 ‘ ‘ ‘ .‘ ‘-ttiti ii if

48 Sloe I Slot (CS

its feverishly intensified their bornnt of earth clods and sand.d now the wide cataract down theitt hank was thinning and ceasing, asiHts were becoming aware that theyr a attain their aim. They were scur

k tip the slope to safety.It ie troops so tar hurled into the ditcht n s icrificed in vain. l)rowned and

m insects eddied in thousandsi Fm I ow, while Indians running on thei I stroved every swimmer that reached

until the ditch curved toward theist i I the scattered ranks assemble againii herent mass. And now, exhaustedu d h d-numbed, they were in no conditit r i m( C nd the bank. Fusillades of clodsdn hem round the bend toward thenit of the ditch and then into the river,

r r tt ey vanished without leaving atra e

news ran swiftly along the entirechai i I nutposts, and soon a long scatteredline )f laughing men could be seen hastening or g the ditch toward the scene ofiCtOi

[ r o cc they seemed to have lost alltheir ito e reserve, for it was in wild abandon no v they celebrated the triumph—as ifthue re rio longer thousands of millionsof me ii ss, cold and hungry eyes watchingthem rom the opposite bank, watching andwaitinG

[he ,un sank behind the rim of thetamar 1 wood and twilight deepened intonight. Tt v s not only hoped but expectedthat h ants would remain quiet untildawn IIut to defeat any forlorn attempt at acrossir ne flow of water through the ditchws thilly increased by opening theclam still other,Ii i of this impregnable barrier,

Le rIin( a ‘sas not vet altogether convincedthat F in s would not venture another

surprise attack. He ordered his men to campalong the bank overnight. He also detailedparties of them to patrol the ditch in two ofhis motor cars and ceaselessly to illuminatethe surface of the water with headlights andelectric torches.

Alter having taken all the precautionshe deemed necessary, the farmer ate hissupper with considerable appetite and wentto bed. His slumbers were in no wise disturbed by the memory of the waiting, live,twenty square miles.

Dawn found a thoroughly refreshed andactive Leiningen riding along the edge of theditch. The planter saw before him a motionless and unaltered throng of besiegers. Hestudied the wide belt of water between themand the plantation, and for a moment almost regretted that the fight had ended sosoon and so simply. In the comforting,matter-of-fact light of morning, it seemed tohim now that the ants hadn’t the ghost of achance to cross the ditch. Even if theyplunged headlong into it on all three frontsat once, the force of the now powerful current would inevitably sweep them away. Hehad got quite a thrill out of the fight—a pityit was already over.

He rode along the eastern and southernsections of the ditch and found everything inorder. He reached the western section, opposite the tamarind wood, and here, contraryto the other battle fronts, he found theenemy very busy indeed. The trunks andbranches of the trees and the creepers of thelianas,7 on the far bank of the ditch, fairlyswarmed with industrious insects. But instead of eating the leaves there and then,they were merely gnawing through thestalks, so that a thick green shower fellsteadily to the ground.

No doubt they were victualing columns

7. llanas (Ic a’ noz) ii. Climbing vines found in thetropics.

Leiningen Versus the Ants 49

sent out to obtain provender for the rest ofthe arm The dis over’ did not surprisLeiningeri. He did not riced to he told thatants are intelligent, that certain specieseven use others as much cows, watchdogs,and slaves, lie was well aware of their powerof adaptation. their sense of discipline. theirmarvelous talent for organization.

His belief that a foray to supply the arms’was in progress was strengthened when hesaw the leaves that fell to the ground beingdragged to the troops waiting outside thewood. Then all at once he realized the aimthat rain of green was intended to serve.

Each single leaf. pulled or pushed bydozens of toiling insects, was borne straightto the edge of the ditch. Even as Macbethwatched the approach of Birnam Wood inthe hands of his enemies,8 Leiningen sawthe tamarind wood move nearer and nearerin the mandibles of the ants. Unlike the feyScot, however, he did not lose his nerve; nowitches had prophesied his doom,9 and ifthey had he would have slept just as soundly. All the same, he was forced to admit tohimself that the situation was now far moreominous than that of the day before.

He had thought it impossible for the antsto build rafts for themselves—well, herethey were, coming in thousands, more thanenough to bridge the ditch. Leaves afterleaves rustled down the slope to the water.where the current drew them away from thebank and carried them into midstr am. Andevery single leaf carried several ants. Thisime the farmer did not trust to the alacrityof his messengers. He galloped away, lean—

front his saddle and vellint orders as herushed past outpost after outpost: ‘l3rintpetrol pumps to the southwest front Issue

8. Macbeth . enemies: In William Shak ‘a ares11a\ Mo Ia (1 soldiers ( a rried hongl is front I itma ntWood I litdt lalund a they allot k (I a atli9. fey (to) Scot . doom: F St 01 me fees toMac bet Ii v 1051 (foal It v, a lot ci old hI I h ne i ti he’

spades to every man along the line facingthe wood!” And arrived at the eastern andsouthern sections, he dispatched every manexcept the observation posts to the menacedwest.

Then, as he rode past tIme stretch wherethe ants had failed to cross the day before.he witnessed a brief but impressive scene.Down the slope of the distant hill there cametoward him a singular being, writhing rather than running, an animallike blackenedstatue with a shapeless head and four quivering feet that knuckled under almostceaselessly. When the creature reached thefar bank of the ditch and collapsed oppositeLeiningen. he recognized it as a pampasstag, covered over and over with ants.

It had strayed near the zone of the army.As usual, they had attacked its eyes first.

50 Shod Stones

1, it had reeled in the madness ofis torment straight into the ranks of—ecutors. and now the beast swayed toin its death agony.h a shot from h is rifle Leiningen putfits misery. Then he pulled out hislie hadn’t a seeoi id to lose. but for life

Sr eould n a have denied his (uriosi tylact ion of k nowing how long the‘.ould take—for personal reasons,peak. After six minutes the white1 bones alone remained. That’s

• himself would look before you caningen spat once, and put spurs to

IL,porting zest with which the exciteWe novel contest had inspired him

tia before had now vanished; in itspla is a cold and violent purpose. He

would send these vermin hack to the hellwhere t hey belonged, somehow anyhow.Yes, but how was indeed the quest ion; ashings stood at present it looked as if thedevils would raze him and his men from theearth instead. He had underestimated themight of the enemy: he really would have tobestir himself if he hoped to out wit them.

The biggest danger now. he decided, wasthe point where the western section of theditch curved southward. And arrived there,he found his worst expectations justified.The very power of the current had huddledthe leaves and their crews of ants so closetogether at the bend that the bridge wasalmost ready.

True, streams of petrol and clumps ofearth still, prevented a landing. But thenumber of floating leaves was increasing

(IL

ever more swiftly, it could not be long nowbefore a stretch of water a mile in length wasdecked by a green pontoon over which theants could rush in millions.

Leiningen galloped to the weir. The damming of the river was controlled by a wheelon its bank. The planter ordered the man atthe wheel first to lower the water in the ditchalmost to vanishing point, next to wait amoment, then suddenly to let the river inagain. This maneuver of lowering and raising the surface, of decreasing then increasing the flow of water through the ditch, wasto be repeated over and over again untilfurther notice.

This tactic was at first successful. Thewater in the ditch sank. and with it the filmof leaves. The green fleet nearly reached thebed and the troops on the far bank swarmeddown the slope to it. Then a violent flow ofwater at the original depth raced throughthe ditch, overwhelming leaves and ants,and sweeping them along.

This intermittent rapid flushing prevented just in time the almost completedfording of the ditch. But it also flung hereand there squads of the enemy vanguardsimultaneously up the inner bank. Theseseemed to know their duty only too well, andlost no time accomplishing it. The air rangwith the curses of bitten Indians. They hadremoved their shirts and pants to detect thequicker the upward-hastening insects:when they saw one, they crushed it: andfortunately the onslaught as vet was only byskirmishers.

Again and again, the water sank androse, carrying leaves and drowned antsaway with it. It lowered once more nearly toits bed: hut this time the exhausted defenders waited in vain for the flush of destruction. Leiningen sensed disaster: somethingmust have gone wrong with the machineryof the dam. Then a sweating peon tore upto him:

‘They’re overt”While the besieged were concentrating

upon the defense of the stretch opposite thewood, the seemingly unaffected line beyondthe wood had become the theater of decisiveaction. Here the defenders’ front was sparseand scattered: everyone who could bespared had hurried away to the south.Just as the man at the weir had lowered

the water almost to the bed of the ditch, theants on a wide front began another attemptat a direct crossing like that of the precedingday. Into the emptied bed poured an irresistible throng. Rushing across the ditch, theyattained the inner bank before the Indiansfully grasped the situation. Their franticscreams dumbfounded the man at the weir.Before he could direct the river anew intothe safeguarding bed he saw himself surrounded by raging ants. He ran like theothers, ran for his life.

When Leiningen heard this, he knew theplantatiqn was doomed. He wasted no timebemoaning the inevitable. For as long asthere was the slightest chance of success.he had stood his ground; and now any further resistance was both useless and dangerous. He fired three revolver shots into theair—the prearranged signal for his men toretreat instantly within the “inner moat.’Then he rode toward the ranch house.

This was two miles from the point oinvasion. There was therefore time ennugtto prepare the second line of defense agailis:the advent of the ants. Of the three grea!petrol cisterns near the house, one had already been half emptied by the constan!withdrawals needed for the pumps durinthe fight at the water ditch. The remainin.petrol in it was now drawn off through underground pipes into the concrete trendwhich encircled the ranch house and itoutbuildings.

And there, drifting in twos and threesLeiningen’s men reached him. Most of ther

52 Short Stories

wiously trying to preserve an air ofa id indifference, belied, however, by‘estless glances and knitted brows.ould see their belief in a favorableire of the struggle was already consid,hakefl.e planter called his peons around

\ell. lads,” he began. “we’ve lost therind. But we’ll smash the beggars vet.eu worry. Anyone who thinks other-in draw his pay here and now andif. There are rafts enough and ton the river and plenty of time still toi’m.a man stirred.

I iningen acknowledged his silent vote

of mfidence with a laugh that was half ar!lrt, ‘That’s the stuff. lads. Too bad if

itissed the rest of the show. eh? Well,thu on won’t start till morning. Once thesebll,41 cers turn tail, there’ll be plenty of workfor ‘t ryone and higher wages all round.And now run along and get something toeat ave earned it all right.”

he excitement of the fight the greaterpars the day had passed without the menOfl( t ) nising to snatch a bite. Now that theants v re for the time being out of sight andthe all of petrol” gave a stronger feeling ofseerrt. hungry stomachs began to asserttheir ulaims.

‘I I . bridges over the concrete ditch wererem d. Here and there solitary ants hadreic h ‘d the ditch; they gazed at the petrolmetIl tively. then scurried back again. Appaitmd they had little interest at the momern . r what lay beyond the evil-reekingbarr i, the abundant spoils of the plantatioti re the main attraction. Soon thetret “ drubs and beds for miles around

died with ants zealously gobbling theyield ‘ ng weary months of strenuous toil.

i ilight began to fall, a cordon of antsma h I around the petrol trench, but as

yet made no move toward its brink. Leiningen posted sentries with headlights andelectric torches, then withdrew to his office,and began to reckon up his losses. He estimated these as large, but, in comparisonwith his bank balance. by no means unbearable. He worked out in some detail ascheme of intensive cultivation which wouldenable him. before very long, to more thancompensate himself for the damage nowbeing wrought to his crops. It was with acontented mind that he finally betook himself to bed where he slept deeply until dawn,undisturbed by any thought that next daylittle more might be left of him than a glistening skeleton.

He rose with the sun and went out onthe flat roof of his house. And a scene likeone from Dant&° lay around him: for milesin every direction there was nothing but ablack, glittering multitude, a multitude ofrested, sated, but nonetheless voraciousants; yes, look as far as one might, one couldsee nothing but that rustling black throng,except in the north, where the great riverdrew a boundary they could not hope topass. But even the high stone breakwater.along the bank of the river, which Leiningenhad built as a defense against inundations,was, like the paths, the shorn trees andshrubs, the ground itself, black with ants.

So their greed was not glutted in razingthat vast plantation? Not by a long chalk;they were all the more eager now on a richand certain booty—four hundred men, numerous horses. and bursting granaries.

At first it seemed that the petrol trenchwould serve its purpose. The besiegerssensed the peril of swimming it. and madeno move to plunge blindly over its brink.Instead they devised a better maneuver;

10. Dante (dan’ tà): Italian poet (1265—1321( whowrote The Divine Comedy, describing the horrors ofhell.

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Leiningen Versus the Ants 53

9.

they beQan to collect shreds of bark. twiisand dried leaves and dropped these into thepetrol. Everythin green. which could havebeen similarly used. had long since beeneaten. After a time, though. a long procession could be seen bringing from the westthe tamarind leaves used as rafts the daybefore.

Since the petrol, unlike the water in theouter ditch, was perfectly still, the refusestayed where it was thrown. It was severalhours before the ants succeeded in coveringan appreciable part of the surface. Atlength, however, they were ready to proceedto a direct attack.

Their storm troops swarmed down theconcrete side. scrambled over the supporting surface of twigs and leaves, and impelledthese over the few remaining streaks of openpetrol until they reached the other side.Then they began to climb up this to makestraight for the helpless garrison.

During the entire offensive, the plantersat peacefully, watching them with interest,but not stirring a muscle. Moreover, he hadordered his men not to disturb in an’ waywhatever the advancing horde. So theysquatted listlessly along the bank of theditch and waited for a sign from the boss.

The petrol was now covered with ants. Afew had climbed the inner concrete wall andwere scurrying toward the defenders.

“Everyone back from the ditch” roaredLeininen. The men rushed away, withoutthe slightest idea of his plan. He stoopedfnrwarcl and cautiously dropped into thedutch a stone which split the floatint carpetand its l ivin&i I reitht . to reveal a Ieaminpat h of petrol. A match spurted. sank downto the oily surfacc—Leininen spralul back:in a flash a towering rampart of fire encompassed 11w Larrison.

TI is spetacular and inst ant repulsethrew the Indians into ecstasy. They ap

54 Short Storte!’

plauded. veIled and stamped. Had it notbeen for the awe in which they held theirboss. they would infallibly have carried himshoulder high.

It was some time before the petrolburned down to the bed of the ditch, and thewall of smoke and flame began to lower. Theants had retreated in a wide circle from thedevastation, and innumerable charred fragments along the outer bank showed that theflames had spread from the holocaust in theditch well into the ranks beyond, where theyhad wrought havoc far and wide.

Yet the perseverance of the ants was byno means broken: indeed, each setbackseemed only to whet it. The concrete cooled.the flicker of the dying flames wavered andvanished, petrol from the second tankpoured into the trench—and the antsmarched forward anew to the attack.

The foregoing scene repeated itself inevery detail, except that on this occasionless time was needed to bridge the ditch, forthe petrol was now already filmed by a layerof ash. Once again they withdrew: onceagain petrol flowed into the ditch. Would thecreatures never learn that their self-sacrifice was utterly senseless? It really wassenseless, wasn’t it? Yes, of course it wassenseless—provided the defenders had anunlimited supply of petrol.

When Leiningen reached this stage ofreasoning, he felt for the first time since thearrival of the ants that his confidence wasdeserting him. His skin began to creep: heloosened his collar. Once the devils wereover the trench there wasnt a chance forhim and his men. What a prospect. to beeaten alive like that

For the third time the flames immolatedthe attacking troops. and burned down toextinction. Yet the ants were coming onagain as if nothing had happened. Andmeanwhile Leiningen had made a discovery

hilled him to the hone—petrol was noi flowing into the ditch. Somethingbe blocking the outflow pipe of themd last cistern—a snake or a deadhntever it was. the ants could be heldnger. unless petrol could by Some

I he led from the cistern into the

o Leiningen remembered that in ansO nearby were two old disused fires Ehe peons dragged them out of theamnected their pumps to the cistern,

• I and laid the hose. They were just inurn a stream of petrol at a column of

that had already crossed and driveok down the incline into the ditch.more an oily girdle surrounded theii, once more it was possible to holdion—for the moment.us obvious, however, that this last

ro i; meant only the postponement ofdt;. nd death. A few of the peons fell ontlu’r n”es and began to pray: others,shr ‘. ‘ insanely, fired their revolvers attb t k. advancing masses, as if they feltthe r I pair was pitiful enough to sway fateits 1 ) mercy.

ngth. two of the men’s nervesbrmc” ‘.‘ningen saw a naked Indian leapo\rr zorth side of the petrol trench,

.iowed by a second. They sprintedwilli •‘t “ruble speed toward the river. Buttheir I iess did not save them: long beforethey d ettain the rafts, the enemy covered I r bodies from head to foot.

In he .mgony of their torment, bothspra . iindl into the wide river, whereenrm: no iess sinister awaited them. WildSCr mortal anguish informed thebroom mlookers that crocodiles and

the a

hen piranhas were no less ravennis, and even nimbler in reaching

II I [his bloody warning. more and

more men showed they were making uptheir minds to run the blockade. Anything.even a fight midstream against alligators,seemed better than powerlessly waiting fordeath to come and slowly consume theirliving bodies.

Leiningen flogged his brain till it reeled.Was there nothing on earth could sweep thisdevils’ spawn back into the hell from whichit came’?

Then out of the inferno of his bewilderment rose a terrifying inspiration. Yes, onehope remained, and one alone. It might bepossible to dam the great river completely,so that its waters would fill not only thewater ditch but overflow into the entire gigantic “saucer” of land in which lay theplantation.

The far bank of the river was too high forthe waters to escape that way. The stonebreakwater ran between the river and theplantation; its only gaps occurred where thehorseshoe” ends of the water ditch passedinto the river. So its waters would not onlybe forced to inundate into the plantation,they would also he held there by the breakwater until they rose to its own high level. Inhalf an hour, perhaps even earlier, the plantation and its hostile army of occupationwould be flooded.

The ranch house and outbuildings stoodupon rising ground. Their foundations werehigher than the breakwater, so the floodwould not reach them. And any remainingants trying to ascend the slope could berepulsed by petrol.

It was possible—yes, if one could onlyget to the dam! A distance of nearly twomiles lay between the ranch house and theweir—two miles of ants. Those two peonshad managed only a fifth of that distance atthe cost of their lives. Was there an Indiandaring enough after that to run the gauntletfive times as far? Hardly likely; and if there

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Leiningen Versus the Ants 55

were, his prospect of gcttinL back was almost nil.

No. tlici-c was on lv one thing for it. liedhave to make the attempt himself: lie mightjust as well be running as sittint still. anyway. when the ants finally got hint. Besides.there teas a bit o1 a chance. Perhaps LI ieants weren’t so almighty. after all I’rhapshe had allowed the mass suggestion of thatevil black throng to hypnotize him, just as asnake fascinates and overpowers.

The ants were building their bridges.Leiningen got up on a chair. “Hey. lads,listen to rne!’ he cried. Slowly and listlessly.from all sides of the trench, the men beganto shuffle toward him, the apathy of deathalready stamped on their faces.

“Listen, lads!” he shouted. “You’refrightened of those beggars. hut I’m proud ofyou. There’s still a chance to save our lives—by flooding the plantation from the river.Now one of you might manage to get as far asthe weir—but he’d never (Some back. Well.Fm not going to let you try it: if I did. I’d beworse than one of those ants. No. I called thetune, and now lrn going to pay the piper.

‘The moment I’m over the ditch. set fireto the petrol. That’ll allow time for the floodto do the trick. Then all you have to do is towait here all snug and quiet till I’m back.Yes. I’m corning back. trust me—liegrinned—’ ‘when I’ve finished my slimmingcure.”

He pu lIed on high leaf her hoofs, drewliea garn ii let or’r his hands, and st tiltedhe spaces between breeches ai 1(1 1 )O( (1s.gaunt lets and a ruts, shirt and ii (‘ek . wit iirags soaked in petrol. With (‘lose—fit I iiit,mosquit C) goggles he shiieldt’d hi is (‘Ves.

knowing too well the ants’ dodge of firstrobbing their victim of sight. Vinallv. lieplugged his nost ri Is iiid cars wi Iii (‘Ott oil—wool, and let I lie pci ins drci ich his clot lieswith petrol

lie was ahoi.ii to set oil when t lie (11(1

Indian iiiedit’me niai i (afll’ up to htiiii : liehad a xvoiidi-i n is sa Re. lu said. prep: e redfrom a Sieeics of (‘hater whose 0(101 was

mtolerablc to ants ‘it’. t lii’ 0(101 prot ectedthese chalers from t in’ at tacks of even t liemost murderous an is. ‘I he India ii smearedthe boss s hoots, his gaunt lets, and Ins faceover and over wit Ii I h ext rod

Leiningeit then remembered the paralyzing effect of ants’ venom, and the Indiam i

gave him a gourd full of the medicine he hadadministered to the bitten peon at the waterditch. The planter drank it down withoutnoticing its hitter taste: his mind was already at the weir.

He started ofi toward the northwest corncr of the trench. With a bound he wasover—and among the ants.

The beleaguered garrison had no opportunitv to watch Leiningen’s race againstdeath. The ants were climbing the innerbank again—the lurid ring of petrol blazedaloft. For the fourth time that day the reflection from the lire shone on the sweatingfaces of the imprisoned men, arid on thereddish-black cuirasses° ot their oppressors. Tue red arid blue, dark-edged flamesleaped vividly now, celebrating what? Thefuneral pyre of the four 1 tundred, om of thehosts of destruction?

Leiningen ran. He ran in long, equalstrides, wit hi only om thought, one sensation. in his bcinm he roost get through. liedodged all trees a I id sh robs: except h r thesplit set otids his soles iouhed the ground.the ants should have no opportunity to

a1iht omi him That they would get to humSoon. (lespit(’ I lie sal\’d oii his hoots. t liePetrol Oil his clof lies, he rca hit (I on \ t ii

well, but In kiu’w (‘veil niorc surely that he

11. chafer (11:11’ :‘r) Ii. hiiscit (Lid tt’ti. (iii

12. cuirases (kwi r,is’ 1/I TI Fish arnlnr: ht’i e iii’

ants’ Oiit(’i bodies

56 Short 3torws

r, t he would, get to the oeir.II H the sa he as some use afterii 10 had reached halh\ay (lid hea-I a hIs tloth’s. and a few on his-. IIcdlv. iii his stride, he struck

F •-l\ OuiSCiOtIS nf their bites. He.1 aa 0g ippreu’iahlv nearer the

a h tnU0 drew less and less—• rue I red - I h vt-c ----Hvohun

a! F ic ‘.•eir mci gripping theii. t mcdlv laud he seized it

a r i ifuriatod ants flowed overin aid shoulders. He startedlou it t tuned otIre OH its axisen d his [bce. Leiningenan Inn iii, his lips pressed

Pt t d heni I draw breathI urnu. d: slowly tine darn

I P t lie bd of the rner.on iriio ing the ditch.110 FiX CF XX OS pouring

ii d) in the brt akn nter.a itnil nn isel Lt’gun

ci \ow. mr the

first time, he realized he was coated fromhead to foot with a layer of ants. In spite ofthe petrol, his clothes were Hill of them,several had got to his body or were clingingto his lace Now that he had completed histask, he felt the smnurt raging over his fleshfrom the bites of sawilig and piercing insects.

Frantic with pain, he almost plungedinto the river. To be ripped and slashed toshreds by piranhas? Already he was running the return journey, knocking ants fromhis gloves and jac ket. brushing them fromhis bloodied face, squashing them to deathunder his clothes.

One of the creatures bit him just belowthe rim of his goggles: he managed to tear itavay, but the agony of the bite and itsetching acid drilled into the ee nerXes: hesaw now through circles of fire into a milkymist, then he ran fbr a time almost blinded,knowing that if he once trtppcd and fell,I he 1)1(1 indians brew dudn m eem muchnooti: it a eakened the p is’ni a hit. butclidn t rt rid ot it. His lit-a rt potiiiclecl as if it

Lc IfliHqt 11 t t’i sos Flue Ants 57

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would burst: blood roared in his ears: agiant’s fist battered his lungs.

Then he (‘Quid See again, but the burning girdle of petrol appeared infinitely faraway: he could not last half that distance.Swilt-changing pictures flashed through hishead, episodes in his life, while in anotherpart of his brain a cool and impartial onlooker informed this ant-blurred, gasping,exhausted bundle named Leiningen thatsuch a rushing panorama of scenes fromone’s past is seen only in the moment beforedeath.

A stone in the path. . . too weak to avoidit . . the planter stumbled and collapsed.He tried to rise . . . he must be pinned undera rock . . . it was impossible . . . the slightest movement was impossible.

Then all at once he saw, starkly clearand huge. and, right before his eyes, furredwith ants, towering and swaying in its deathagony. the pampas stag. In six minutes—gnawed to the bones. He couldn’t die likethat! And something outside him seemed todrag him to his feet. He tottered. He began tostagger forward again.

Through the blazing ring hurtled an apparition which, as soon as it reached theground on the inner side, fell full length anddid not move. Leiningen. at the moment hemade that leap through the flames, lost consciousness for the first time in his life. As helay there, with glazing eves and laceratedlace, he appeared a man returned from thegrave. The peons rushed to him, stripped oilhis clot hes. tore away the ants from a bodythat seemed almost one open wound: insonic plees the bones were showing. Theycarried him ii ito t lie ranch house.

As (lie curl a iii of flames lowered, one(‘01 ild see in place ol the illimitable host 01

ants an extensive vista of waler. TheI hiwa ri ed river had swept over the plaid alion, ‘a rrving xvi t h it the entire army. The

\vat er had collect (‘ci and mounted in thegreat ‘‘saucer,’’ while the ants had in vainattempted to reach the hill on which stoodthe ranch house, The girdle of flames heldthem hack.

And so. imprisoned between water andfire, they had been delivered into the annihilatiori that was their god. And near thefarther mouth of the water ditch, where thestone mole had its second gap, the oceanswept the lost battalions into the river, tovanish forever.

The ring of fire dwindled as the watermounted to the petrol trench and quenchedthe dimming flames. The inundation rosehigher and higher: because its outflow wasimpeded by the timber and underbrush ithad carried along with it, its surface required some time to reach the top of the highstone breakwater and discharge over it therest of the shattered army.

It swelled over ant-stippled shrubs andbushes. until it washed against the foot ofthe knoll whereon the besieged had takenrefuge. For a while an alluvium of ants triedagain and again to attain the dry land, onlyto be repulsed by streams of petrol back intothe merciless flood.

Leiningen lay on his bed. his bodyswathed from head to foot in bandages. Withh)men(ations and salves. they had managedto stop the bleeding, and had dressed hismany wounds. Now they thronged aroundhim, one question in every face. Would herc’cover’? ‘He won’t die.’’ said the old manwho had bandaged him. ‘‘if he doesnt wantto.”

The planter opened his eves.’’ Everytlun& iii order? he asked.

‘They’re gone.’’ said his nurse. lie heldout to his master a gourd lull of a pox’er1ulsleeping—dral I Lei ningen gulped it down.

‘‘1 1(11(1 you I’d come hack,’ he mur—niured. ‘‘even if I am a bit streamlined.’’

58 Shod Stories

•(1\I)t\( ‘) 1 Hf.

1rself in Leiningens place What would..e done differently? Why?

“,reat do the ants pose to Leiniflgen?t point in the story does it first seem thatmen has snatched victory from the very.t defeat? How do the ants recover?

• oes Leiningen finally defeat the ants7

o you think Leiniflgen was so determinedm and fight the ants?

6 tqualities do you think make Leiningen. uipped to tight the ants? What qualitiesmit make him dangerous to others?

7 ehavior of the ants makes them appearntelligeflt beings?n the story, Leiniflgefl’S motto is stated:

Th urnan brain needs only to become fullycf its power to conquer even the ele

.a Explain how the events of the story eith r ipport or invalidate his motto.

9. 8 .t.iyng to fight the ants, Leiningen riskedot ves as well as his own. Do you thinkh.. as1ustified? Why or why not?

•zrG L1rFRH RE

.nternal confliCt is a struggle that takes.hn a character who struggles with difas and feelings. The peonS have interL.t5 between their fear of the ants andin Leiningen. An external conflict ocen two or more characters or betweenand natural forces.

1 0” xarnple of an internal conflict that pitsir t against instinct.

2. C m xample of an external conflict that pitst sqainst instinct.

Situations have both causes and effects, Thecauses are the reasons why something happens.The effects are the mSuitS or outcomes of thesituatIon.1. Describe each of Letringefl s lines of defenseagainst the ants.

2. Explain the effect of each line of defense.

THl\KI\( \I)

Imagine that you are a reporter coveringLeiningen’s war against the ants. To write your final summary story. decide what the conflict wasreally about and why it was important. Also listsome high points of the fighting. Write a story thathelps your readers understand what went on.When you revise your story be sure that it answers these questions: who? what? where?when? why? and how?

L1. Art. Based on Stephenson’s description, drawa map of Leiningen’s plantation. On your mapuse symbols to show the measures Leiningentook to defend the plantation. Draw lines indicating the distance the ants advanced at eachstage. In addition create symbols to show thestrategies the ants used against Leiningen. Finally, make a key to explain the symbols onyour map.

2. CommUnitY Connections. How have peoplein your community banded together in response to a crisis? Think of a situation in whichmembers of your community have tried to solveor alleviate a problem through a group effort.Commend this effort in a letter to the editor ofyour local newspaper.

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Lciningetl Vet sos the Ants 59