him where they
were going. "No, no," he muttered; "that will be time enough to-morrow;
go to sleep and be strong."

Very good advice, certainly; but when children are put to bed before the
sun has set in the long summer evening, while the birds are still
singing, and the bats have not begun to come out, and they feel
desperately inclined to play a little longer, I am afraid they don't
relish it much.

However, Shiny-pate was a good, sensible little creature, and he went
off very meekly, but he awoke early in the morning, ready for the fray.

"Breakfast first," said he to himself; but no: the older officers said
they had to fight first, and eat afterwards; so they soon began to
arrange their marching order.

A column of ants, at least a hundred yards in length, but not very wide,
was soon formed; each leader had charge of twenty workers. The officers
were not expected to march in the main line, but to walk outside their
company, and keep it in order; and great was our hero's pride and
delight when he surveyed his own particular men, and thought what an
example of bravery he would set them.

At last all were ready, and the army moved off in beautiful order. The
officers ran up and down the ranks, inspecting everything, their white
helmets glistening in the sun, and as Shiny-pate's position was well to
the front, he had great opportunities.

[Illustration: "THE ARMY MOVED OFF."]

After they had proceeded for some time with great gravity and care, they
came to a tree from which hung a couple of nests belonging to the large
wasps of the country, and after a moment's discussion it was decided
that the ants should mount and rifle them as a first move, so the
obedient soldiers hastened on, and Shiny-pate, who knew nothing of the
enterprise, joyfully waved his sword at the head of his troops. How
astonished, how disgusted he was, when he felt the first wasp-sting he
had ever experienced!

He almost fell from the nest with amazement, but he would not give
in--"No, never, die first!" he thought, so he rushed on, and was among
the foremost to enter the cells where the young pupae were carefully
walled in, and tearing them from their cosy cradles, the ants proceeded
to devour them.

[Illustration: "SALUTING HIS COMMANDER" (_p. 209_).]

However, though the nests were large, and the grubs many in number,
there were not half or quarter enough for the army. More and more ants
came trooping up the tree, trying to squeeze int