In front of the defaulter the procession still continues to wend its way for a short time.

The ranks close up and an empty space appears.

On coming to himself and resuming the march, the caterpillar who has caused the breach becomes a leader, having nothing before him.

The least desire for emancipation is all that he wants to make him launch the band into a new path which perhaps will be the saving path.
In short, when the Processionaries' train is in difficulties, what it needs, unlike ours, is to run off the rails.

The side-tracking is left to the caprice of a leader who alone is capable of turning to the right or left; and this leader is absolutely non-existent so long as the ring remains unbroken.