It was an awkward predicament. The armies approached closer every minute and it speedily became a matter of importance to secure some place of refuge.
The only one that offered was the mango tree from which the anaconda, whose carcass had attracted the foraging bodies, had made its last attack. Luckily, the branches grew close to the ground and it was an easy matter to clamber up into safety.
“Up with you all!” cried the skipper and then bent with a cry of pain.
One of the forerunners of the ant battalions had climbed up his leg and bitten him painfully on the calf.
“Consarn the critter!” roared the skipper, as he slapped his leg and killed his tormentor, “it stings like all Billy-go-long. I wouldn’t care to be sot on by a thousand on ‘em.”
This incident served to hasten their climb into the tree. Thanks to the low-hanging branches already mentioned, they were soon ensconced therein, and, as they thought, out of danger. From their different perches they eyed the scene below with interest.
As far as the eye could reach the ant columns extended. It was, of course, impossible to estimate the numbers in each advancing file, but there must have been millions upon millions of the tiny creatures. Insignificant enough in themselves as individuals, yet in this multiplicity of numbers they were calculated to inspire respect, even fear.
The forerunners reached the body of the snake a short time after the party had clambered into the tree. Within a few minutes the whole serpentine body of the reptile with its brilliant coloring was obscured by the moving mass of ants. They literally covered it from tip to tip and still fresh numbers appeared, till the ground seemed to heave with them, like a carpet placed on a draughty floor.
It was a fascinating sight, and the boys watched it with a deep interest not unmixed with awe. So densely were the tiny creatures packed that they appeared as one solid body rather than an enormous collection of individual Ecitons.
“Gracious!” exclaimed Tom, as they watched. “I hope none of them take a notion to come up here! They could make it mighty unpleasant for us if they did.”