THE ISLAND OF THE MONSTROUS ANTS.
For three days and three nights they saw no land. On the morning of the
fourth day, while it was yet dark, they heard a sound to the north-east;
and Germane said--
"This is the voice of the waves breaking on the shore."
As soon as it was light they saw land and made towards it. While they
were casting lots to know who should go and explore the country, they
saw great flocks of ants coming down to the beach, each of them as large
as a foal. The people judged by their numbers, and by their eager and
hungry look, that they were bent on eating both ship and crew; so they
turned their vessel round and sailed quickly away.
Their multitudes countless, prodigious their size;
Were never such ants seen or heard of before.
They struggled and tumbled and plunged for the prize,
And fiercely the famine-fire blazed from their eyes,
As they ground with their teeth the red sand of the shore!