but Ant Black to move it. This great big sound apple. And it looks to
me like witchcraft. That's what it looks like,' says Ant Red.

"They all declared it looked just like witchcraft. Ant Black tried
to show them how holler the apple was, and they declared if she'd
hollered it that way so quick, it was witchcraft certain.

"So what does they do but pen her and her young ones in the apple-shell
and stop it up with mud. Even the mud-wasps and tumble-bugs that hadn't
been bid come and took part when they see the dirt a-flyin'. Ant Red
set on the clover-head and teetered.

"Now, down to this present minute," concluded Zene, "you never pick
up an apple and find a red ant walkin' out of it. If ants is there,
it's one of them poor black fellers that was shut up at the apple-bee,
and they walk out brisk; as if they's glad to find daylight once more."




CHAPTER IX.

THE GREAT CAMP MEETING.


Towards evening of the next day the broken wagon wheel was replaced.
By that time the children were not more anxious to move forward than
was Grandma Padgett. So just before sunset they broke up camp and
moved along the country road until the constellations were swinging
overhead. Zene took the first good crossway that led to the 'pike,