He had to beat the ants because now he knew how long it would take them once they got to us.
8 seconds sound clip from the Leiningen Versus the Ants (1948) classic radio play.
You can hear this line at 00:13:20 in the radio play.
Quote context
[...]
- It was a stag, covered over and over with ants.
- Leiningen threw up his rifle... and the stag fell lifeless to the ground, it's agonies at an end.
- After six long minutes, only the white polished bones of the stag remained.
- He had to beat the ants because now he knew how long it would take them once they got to us.
- Look at 'em drown... in the thousands!
- But they keep coming. Even though the current carries many of them away, they're advancing.
[...]