The Empire of the Ants by H.G. Wells
Section [1 | 2]
aware that_the planks of_the middle decking were dotted with moving black specks .

his attention was riveted by_these specks . they were all walking in directions radiating from_the fallen man in a manner-- the image came unsought to_his mind-- like the crowd dispersing from a bull- fight .

he became aware of Gerilleau beside him ."Capo," he_said, " have_you your glasses ? can_you focus as closely as_those planks there ? "

Gerilleau made an effort, grunted, and handed him the glasses .

there followed a moment of scrutiny ." it's ants," said the Englishman, and handed the focused field- glass back to Gerilleau .

his impression of_them was of a crowd of large black ants, very like ordinary ants except for their size, and for_the fact that some_of_the larger of_them bore a sort of clothing of grey . but at_the_time his inspection was too brief for particulars . the head of lieutenant DA Cunha appeared over the side of_the cuberta, and a brief colloquy ensued .

" you_must go aboard," said Gerilleau .

the lieutenant objected that_the boat was full of ants .

" you_have your boots," said Gerilleau .

the lieutenant changed the subject ." how did these en die ? " he asked .

captain Gerilleau embarked upon speculations that Holroyd could_not follow, and_the two men disputed with a certain increasing vehemence .Holroyd took up the field- glass and resumed his scrutiny, first of_the ants and then of_the dead man amidships .

he has described these ants to_me very particularly .

he_says they were as large as any ants he has ever seen, black and moving with a steady deliberation very different from_the mechanical fussiness of_the common ant . about one in twenty was much larger than its fellows, and with an exceptionally large head . these reminded him at once of_the master workers who_are said to rule over the leaf- cutter ants; like them they seemed to_be directing and co-ordinating the general movements . they tilted their bodies back in a manner altogether singular as if_they made some use of_the fore feet . and he had a curious fancy that he_was too far off to_verify, that most of_these ants of both kinds were wearing accoutrements, had things strapped about their bodies by bright white bands like white metal threads .. .

he put down the glasses abruptly, realising that_the question of discipline between_the captain and_his subordinate had become acute .

" it_is your duty," said the captain, " to_go aboard . it_is my instructions ."

the lieutenant seemed on_the verge of refusing . the head of one_of_the mulatto sailors appeared beside him .

"I believe these men were killed by_the ants," said Holroyd abruptly in English .

the captain burst into a rage . he_made no answer to Holroyd ." I_have commanded you to_go aboard," he screamed to_his subordinate in Portuguese ." if_you_do_not go aboard forthwith it_is mutiny-- rank mutiny . mutiny and cowardice ! where is_the courage that should animate us ? i_will_have you in irons, i_will_have you shot like a dog ." he began a torrent of abuse and curses, he danced to and fro . he shook his fists, he behaved as_if beside himself with rage, and_the lieutenant, white and still, stood looking at him . the crew appeared forward, with amazed faces .

suddenly, in a pause of_this outbreak, the lieutenant came to some heroic decision, saluted, drew himself together and clambered upon_the deck of_the cuberta .

"Ah ! " said Gerilleau, and_his mouth shut like a trap .Holroyd saw the ants retreating before DA Cunha's boots . the Portuguese walked slowly to_the fallen man, stooped down, hesitated, clutched his coat and turned him over .a black swarm of ants rushed out_of_the clothes, and DA Cunha stepped back very quickly and trod two_or_three times on_the deck .

Holroyd put up the glasses . he_saw the scattered ants about_the invader's feet, and doing what he had never seen ants doing before . they had nothing of_the blind movements of_the common ant; they were looking at him-- as arallying crowd of men might look at some gigantic monster that had dispersed it .

" how did he die ? " the captain shouted .

Holroyd understood the Portuguese to_say the body was too_much eaten to_tell .

" what is_there forward ? " asked Gerilleau .

the lieutenant walked a few paces, and began his answer in Portuguese . he stopped abruptly and beat off something from_his leg . he_made some peculiar steps as_if he_was trying to stamp on something invisible, and went quickly towards the side . then he controlled himself, turned about, walked deliberately forward to_the hold, clambered up_to_the fore decking, from_which the sweeps are worked, stooped for a time over the second man, groaned audibly, and made his way back and aft to_the cabin, moving very rigidly . he turned and began a conversation with_his captain, cold and respectful in tone on either side, contrasting vividly with_the wrath and insult of a few_moments before .Holroyd gathered only fragments of_its purport .

he reverted to_the field- glass, and was surprised to_find the ants had vanished from all the exposed surfaces of_the deck . he turned towards the shadows beneath the decking, and it seemed to him they were full of watching eyes .

the cuberta, it_was agreed; was derelict, but too full of ants to_put men aboard to sit and sleep: it must_be towed . the lieutenant went forward to_take in and adjust the cable, and_the men in_the boat stood up to_be ready to help him .Holroyd's glasses searched the canoe .

he became more and more impressed by_the fact that a great if minute and furtive activity was going on . he perceived that a number of gigantic ants-- they seemed nearly a couple of inches in length--carrying oddly- shaped burthens for_which he_could imagine no use-- were moving in rushes from one point of obscurity to another . they_did_not move in columns across the exposed places, but in open, spaced- out lines, oddly suggestive of_the rushes of modern infantry advancing under fire .a number were taking cover under the dead man's clothes, and a perfect swarm was gathering along the side over which DA Cunha must presently go .

he_did_not_see them actually rush for_the lieutenant as he returned, but he has no_doubt they_did make a concerted rush . suddenly the lieutenant was shouting and cursing and beating at his legs ."I'm stung ! " he shouted, with a face of hate and accusation towards Gerilleau .

then he vanished over the side, dropped into his boat, and plunged at once into_the water .Holroyd heard the splash .

the three men in_the boat pulled him out and brought him aboard, and_that night he died .

III .

Holroyd and_the captain came out_of_the cabin in_which_the swollen and contorted body of_the lieutenant lay and stood together at_the stern of_the monitor, staring at_the sinister vessel they trailed behind them . it_was a close, dark night that had only phantom flickerings of sheet lightning to illuminate it . the cuberta, a vague black triangle, rocked about in_the steamer's wake, her sails bobbing and flapping, and_the black smoke from_the funnels, spark-lit ever and again, streamed over her swaying masts .

Gerilleau's mind was inclined to run on_the unkind things the lieutenant had said in_the heat of_his last fever .

" he_says I murdered ' im," he protested ." it_is simply absurd . someone _'ad to_go aboard . are we to run away from_these confounded ants whenever they show up ? "

Holroyd said nothing . he_was thinking of a disciplined rush of little black shapes across bare sunlit planking .

" it_was his place to_go," harped Gerilleau ." he died in_the execution of_his duty . what has he to complain of ? murdered ! .. . but the poor fellow was-- what_is it ? -- demented . he_was not in_his right mind . the poison swelled him .. .U'm ."

they came to a long silence .

" we_will sink that canoe-- burn it ."

" and then ? "

the inquiry irritated Gerilleau . his shoulders went up, his hands flew out at right angles from_his body ." what_is one to_do ? " he_said, his voice going up_to an angry squeak .

"Anyhow," he broke out vindictively, " every ant in dat cuberta ! -- i_will burn dem alive ! "

Holroyd was not moved to conversation .a distant ululation of howling monkeys filled the sultry night with foreboding sounds, and as_the gunboat drew near the black mysterious banks this_was reinforced by adepressing clamour of frogs .

" what_is one to_do ? " the captain repeated after a vast interval, and suddenly becoming active and savage and blasphemous, decided to burn the Santa Rosa without further delay . everyone aboard was pleased by_that idea, everyone helped with zest; they pulled in_the cable, cut it, and dropped the boat and fired her with tow and kerosene, and soon the cuberta was crackling and flaring merrily amidst the immensities of_the tropical night .Holroyd watched the mounting yellow flare against the blackness, and_the livid flashes of sheet lightning that came and went above the forest summits, throwing them into momentary silhouette, and_his stoker stood behind him watching also .

the stoker was stirred to_the depths of_his linguistics ."_Saba go pop, pop," he_said, "Wahaw" and laughed richly .

but Holroyd was thinking that_these little creatures on_the decked canoe had also eyes and brains .

the whole thing impressed him as incredibly foolish and wrong, but-- what_was one to_do ? this question came back enormously reinforced on_the morrow, when at last the gunboat reached Badama .

this place, with its leaf- thatch- covered houses and sheds, its creeper- invaded sugar- mill, its little jetty of timber and canes, was very still in_the morning heat, and showed never a sign of living men . whatever ants there were at_that distance were too small to_see .

" all the people have_gone," said Gerilleau, " but we_will do one_thing anyhow . we_will 'oot and vissel ."

so Holroyd hooted and whistled .

then the captain fell into adoubting fit of_the worst kind ."Dere is one_thing we_can do," he_said presently, " what's that ? " said Holroyd .

"'Oot and vissel again ."

so they_did .

the captain walked his deck and gesticulated to himself . he_seemed to_have many things on_his mind .Fragments of speeches came from_his lips . he appeared to_be addressing some imaginary public tribunal either in Spanish or Portuguese .Holroyd's improving ear detected something about ammunition . he_came out of_these preoccupations suddenly into English ." my dear 'Olroyd ! " he cried, and broke off with " but what can one do ? "

they took the boat and_the field-glasses, and went close in to examine the place . they made out a number of big ants, whose still postures had a certain effect of watching them, dotted about_the edge of_the rude embarkation jetty .Gerilleau tried ineffectual pistol shots at_these .Holroyd thinks he distinguished curious earthworks running between_the nearer houses, that_may have_been the work of_the insect conquerors of_those human habitations . the explorers pulled past the jetty, and became aware of a human skeleton wearing a loin cloth, and very bright and clean and shining, lying beyond . they came to a pause regarding this .. .

"I 'ave all dose lives to consider," said Gerilleau suddenly .

Holroyd turned and stared at_the captain, realising slowly that he referred to_the unappetising mixture of races that constituted his crew .

" to send alanding party-- it_is impossible-- impossible . they_will_be poisoned, they_will swell, they_will swell up and abuse me and die . it_is totally impossible .. . if_we land, I_must land alone, alone, in thick boots and with my life in my hand . perhaps i_should live . or again--I might_not land . I_do_not know . I_do_not know ."

Holroyd thought he_did, but he_said nothing .

"De whole thing," said Gerilleau suddenly, "' as been got up to_make me ridiculous .De whole thing ! "

they paddled about and regarded the clean white skeleton from various points of view, and then they returned to_the gunboat . then Gerilleau's indecisions became terrible . steam was got up, and in_the afternoon the monitor went on up the river with an air of going to ask somebody something, and by sunset came back again and anchored .athunderstorm gathered and broke furiously, and then the night became beautifully cool and quiet and everyone slept on deck . except Gerilleau, who tossed about and muttered . in_the dawn he awakened Holroyd .

" lord ! " said Holroyd, " what now ? "

" I_have decided," said the captain .

" what-- to land ? " said Holroyd, sitting up brightly .

" no ! " said the captain, and was for a time very reserved ." I_have decided," he repeated, and Holroyd manifested symptoms of impatience .

" well,-- yes," said the captain, "_I shall fire de big gun ! "

and he_did ! heaven knows what the ants thought of it, but he_did . he fired it twice with great sternness and ceremony . all the crew had wadding in their ears, and there_was an effect of going into action about_the whole affair, and first they hit and wrecked the old sugar- mill, and then they smashed the abandoned store behind the jetty . and then Gerilleau experienced the inevitable reaction .

" it_is no good," he_said to Holroyd; " no good at all . no sort of bally good . we_must go back-- for instructions .Dere will_be de devil of a row about dis ammunition--oh ! de devil of a row ! you don't know, 'Olroyd .. ."

he stood regarding the world in infinite perplexity for a space .

" but what else was there to_do ? " he cried .

in_the afternoon the monitor started down stream again, and in_the evening alanding party took the body of_the lieutenant and buried it on_the bank upon_which the new ants have so_far not appeared .. .

IV .

I heard this story in a fragmentary state from Holroyd not three weeks_ago .

these new ants have got into his brain, and he has_come back to England with_the idea, as he_says, of "exciting people" about_them " before_it_is too late ." he_says they threaten British Guiana, which cannot_be much over a trifle of a thousand miles from their present sphere of activity, and_that the colonial office ought to_get to work upon them at once . he declaims with great passion: " these are intelligent ants . just think what that means ! "

there can_be no_doubt they_are a serious pest, and_that the Brazilian government is well advised in offering a prize of five hundred pounds for some effectual method of extirpation . it_is certain too that since they first appeared in_the hills beyond Badama, about three years_ago, they_have achieved extraordinary conquests . the whole of_the south bank of_the Batemo river, for nearly sixty miles, they_have in their effectual occupation; they_have driven men out completely, occupied plantations and settlements, and boarded and captured at_least one ship . it_is even said they_have in some inexplicable way bridged the very considerable Capuarana arm and pushed many miles towards the Amazon itself . there can_be little doubt that_they_are far more reasonable and with a far better social organisation than any previously known ant species; instead of being in dispersed societies they_are organised into what_is in effect a single nation; but their peculiar and immediate formidableness lies not so_much in_this as in_the intelligent use they make of poison against their larger enemies . it would seem this poison of theirs is closely akin to snake poison, and it_is highly probable they actually manufacture it, and_that the larger individuals among them carry the needle- like crystals of it in their attacks upon men .

of_course_it_is extremely difficult to_get any detailed information about these new competitors for_the sovereignty of_the globe . no eye-witnesses of_their activity, except for such glimpses as Holroyd's, have survived the encounter . the most extraordinary legends of_their prowess and capacity are in circulation in_the region of_the upper Amazon, and grow daily as_the steady advance of_the invader stimulates men's imaginations through their fears . these strange little creatures are credited not_only with_the use of implements and a knowledge of fire and metals and with organised feats of engineering that stagger our northern minds-- unused as_we_are to such feats as_that of_the Sabas of Rio_de_Janeiro, who in 1841 drove a tunnel under the Parahyba where it_is as wide as_the Thames at London bridge-- but with an organised and detailed method of record and communication analogous to our books . so_far their action has_been a steady progressive settlement, involving the flight or slaughter of every human being in_the new areas they invade . they_are increasing rapidly in numbers, and Holroyd at_least is firmly convinced that they_will finally dispossess man over the whole of tropical South_America .

and why should they stop at tropical South_America ?

well, there they_are, anyhow . by 1911 or thereabouts, if_they go on as_they_are going, they ought to strike the Capuarana extension railway, and force themselves upon_the attention of_the European capitalist .

by 1920 they_will_be half- way down the Amazon .I fix 1950 or '60 at_the latest for_the discovery of Europe .

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