Suddenly Miss Allan, who was seated with her back to the ruined wall, put down her sandwich, picked something off her neck, and remarked, "I'm covered with little creatures." It was true, and the discovery was very welcome.

The ants were pouring down a glacier of loose earth heaped between the stones of the ruin--large brown ants with polished bodies.

She held out one on the back of her hand for Helen to look at.
"Suppose they sting ?" said Helen.
"They will not sting, but they may infest the victuals," said Miss Allan, and measures were taken at once to divert the ants from their course.

At Hewet's suggestion it was decided to adopt the methods of modern warfare against an invading army.

The table-cloth represented the invaded country, and round it they built barricades of baskets, set up the wine bottles in a rampart, made fortifications of bread and dug fosses of salt.