Famine is ahead, and all but one must perish.
Soon, indeed, the aspect of things is entirely changed.

One of the grubs--that which occupies the central position in the pea--begins to grow more quickly than the others.

Scarcely has it surpassed the others in size when the latter cease to eat, and no longer attempt to burrow forwards.

They lie motionless and resigned; they die that gentle death which comes to unconscious lives.

Henceforth the entire pea belongs to the sole survivor.