In Leiningen Versus the Ants, Carl Stephenson (1893-1954), opens the story with a native vainly trying to explain to a self-made, wealthy plantation owner in Brazil to flee for his life because the ants are coming.
The owner, Leinginen, placidly puffing on a cigar, is unconcerned. By sheer will and brain power, he has already outwitted man, beast, and pestilence, so a new challenge almost excites him.
But when Leinginen encounters the twenty-mile square mass of intelligent, determined ants who outwit one foil after another, Leinginen realizes the truth of the native's words, "before you can spit three times, they'll eat a full-grown buffalo to the bones," and embarks on a battle of wits that will only end when either he or the ants are dead.
www.classicshorts.com/stories/lvta.html
The owner, Leinginen, placidly puffing on a cigar, is unconcerned. By sheer will and brain power, he has already outwitted man, beast, and pestilence, so a new challenge almost excites him.
But when Leinginen encounters the twenty-mile square mass of intelligent, determined ants who outwit one foil after another, Leinginen realizes the truth of the native's words, "before you can spit three times, they'll eat a full-grown buffalo to the bones," and embarks on a battle of wits that will only end when either he or the ants are dead.
www.classicshorts.com/stories/lvta.html
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