The first objects they had met with were the bodies of the three midshipmen, on whom they would have undoubtedly feasted till they had consumed them to their bones, had not their sharp pincers aroused their victims. The midshipmen found it no easy job to rid themselves of the fearful little pests, even with the assistance of their friends, and they had literally to strip off their clothes, and capture each creature singly, and throw it into the fire, before they were got rid of. One of the surgeons, taking compassion on them, produced some ointment, which allayed the irritation from which they were suffering. They were not the only people whom the ants had attacked, and complaints, piteous and loud, came from all parts of the camp, of the attacks made by the fiery little pests. Many of the men, however, appeared bite proof, and only growled and swore at having their slumbers disturbed. "We have, however, learnt a lesson, and I vote that in future we look out for ants' nests, before settling on our camping-ground," observed Archy Gordon, with his usual gravity, as they once more lay down on the other side of the fire, at a respectful distance from their former resting-place. "I'd sooner face an electric eel, or a boa-constrictor, than an army of those diabolical little pests," exclaimed Desmond, who had suffered even more than his companions; "you may tackle them, but I defy any one except perhaps Spider, to defeat their attacks, and he would have to keep his paws pretty active to catch them." "I wish that we had him with us," groaned Tom; "I am still itching and smarting all over, and they are at me again, I am sure of it." "A big ant-eater would help us more effectually," observed Gordon. "He is a curious creature, with a thick bushy tail and a pointed snout, in which he has a long tongue, to enable him to lick up an army of ants and swallow them down at a gulp." "I wonder that the ants are such fools as to come out of their castles, then," remarked Desmond. "The ant-eater does not wait for them to do that, for he has got powerful claws with which he pulls down their castles, and when they come out to repair the breaches, he sticks out his tongue and captures a whole army at once," answered Gordon. "Faith, then, I wish that we could have a few such creatures to inspect our camp in future before we lie down to rest," said Desmond. "Silence there, you youngsters," cried an officer; "if you can't go to sleep, take a round turn of your tongues." The hint was not neglected, and notwithstanding the irritation they were suffering, the midshipmen were very soon snoozing away as soundly as any one. Every night similar scenes occurred; and during the day, except when stopping for dinner, the boats' crews pulled on with as much vigour and resolution as at first.