"And what happens after you've answered the Captain's question?"

"We all march back into the mound again, of course, carrying the next question."

But Alice had no intention of marching back into the mound; once she was out, she was staying out. "Maybe I shall be home in time for my writing lesson," she said to herself: Which gave her an idea. "Miss Computermite," she said out loud, "you're awfully good at answering questions, aren't you?"

"I most certainly am. Fire away, young girl."

"Answer me this then: What is the correct usage of an ellipsis?"

"No, no… don't tell me… let me think…" the computermite pondered, "I know it… I'm sure that I do… now let me just… there… I have it!"

"Yes?" urged Alice excitedly.

"The correct usage of an ellipsis…" the Computermite announced grandly, "is for the removal of greenfly from a rose bush."

"I beg your pardon?"

"An ellipsis… it's a kind of gardening implement… isn't it?"

"Oh, this is no good at all!" spluttered Alice. "My Great Aunt will be furious!"

This statement stopped Miss Computermite completely in her tracks. "You've got a great ant?" she asked, astonished.

"I most certainly have. Her name is Ermintrude."

"The great ant has got a name?!"

"Yes she has, and very, very strict she is too."

"Upon my mound!" squeaked the termite in a frightened voice.

"What's wrong, Miss Computermite?" asked Alice. "You look quite scared."

"Just keep your great ant Ermintrude away from me!" the termite pronounced, and then off she set at an even faster pace than before.

"I wonder what's bothering Miss Computermite?" pondered Alice. "Did I say something wrong?" And then she set off after the termite, doing her utmost to catch up.

Presently Alice did catch up, and just as she did so, she saw a faint light glowing from a distant hole in the mound. The trillions, even zillions, of termites were all scurrying forwards into the light and Alice was quite caught up in their rush: she was a part of the answer.