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After he had made a few paces in a forward direction, he began to perceive something moving around the bodies of the animals. Snakes? No. What then? A few paces nearer. See! the whole ground is in motion. The bodies of the aïs, though dead, are covered with living, moving objects! Ha! it is a "chacu" of the white ants. Leon now comprehended the whole affair.
The ant-eaters, both of which were now dead, he left behind, as he saw that the termites were crawling thickly around them, and had already begun their work of devastation. Strange to say, as the party returned that way, going to dinner, not a vestige remained either of the aïs or the ant-eaters, except a few bones and some portions of coarse hair.
His perch commanded a full view of the operations of the termites, and for a long time he sat watching them with interest. He could see that it was not the same set that were always on the carcasses of the ais. On the contrary, one host were always leaving the spot, while another took their places, and from the great conical houses fresh bands appeared to issue.
He could then employ himself in spreading it, or could lead the mule in carrying it to the storehouse. Leon did not intend to be idle, but there happened to be no work for him just then; and after watching the bark-cutters for awhile, he sauntered back along the path, in order to have a little fun with the ais.
You may burn to interrupt, and to cry out "FranASec.ais, mes frA"res" but you had better bite your tongue, and sit still. Do not explain that Rio Janeiro is the capital of Brazil. In a few minutes it will appear that they all knew it, though they did not mention it, and, by your waiting, you will save yourself horrible mortification.
"Carrambo!" muttered Leon. "What's the matter with them?" They seemed inclined to escape towards the trees; but, after making a few lengths, they would fall to the ground, tumble about, and then, getting up again, head in the opposite direction! Leon was puzzled, no wonder. He looked around for a solution of this queer conduct on the part of the ais. No explanation appeared.
The bark-hunters now continued their route, and shortly after entered a little glade or opening in the forest, about an acre in size. When they had reached the middle of this, Guapo threw his aïs upon the ground and marched on. "Why do you leave them?" inquired the others. "No fear for them," replied Guapo; "they'll be there when we come back.
They had made their foray, or "chacu," as it is called, from the neighbouring cones; they had attacked the helpless ais, and put them to death, with their poisonous stings! Already they were tearing them to pieces, and bearing them off to their dark caves!
In fact, two great parallel belts of them, like army columns, stretched from the "hills" to the aïs, going in opposite directions. Those which travelled towards the cells presented a very different appearance to the others. These were loaded with pieces of torn flesh, or skin with tufts of hair adhering to it; and each ant carried a piece by far larger than its own body.
At a distance winch far surpassed the human height, the branches were torn off or broken. At the same time the herbs, roughly scattered, exhibited on the soil, a little marshy, prints of steps which could not be those of jaguars, or cougars. Were these, then, the "ais," or some other tardi-graves, whose feet had thus marked the soil?
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