CHAPTERX
Afterwehadhadoutourlaugh，Lop-EarandIcurvedbackinourflightandgotbreakfastintheblueberryswamp。ItwasthesameswamptowhichIhadmademyfirstjourneysintheworld，yearsbefore，accompaniedbymymother。Ihadseenlittleofherintheinterveningtime。Usually，whenshevisitedthehordeatthecaves，Iwasawayintheforest。IhadonceortwicecaughtglimpsesoftheChattererintheopenspace，andhadhadthepleasureofmakingfacesathimandangeringhimfromthemouthofmycave。BeyondsuchamenitiesIhadleftmyfamilyseverelyalone。I
wasnotmuchinterestedinit，andanywayIwasdoingverywellbymyself。
Aftereatingourfillofberries，withtwonestfulsofpartlyhatchedquail-eggsfordessert，Lop-EarandI
wanderedcircumspectlyintothewoodstowardtheriver。
Herewaswherestoodmyoldhome-tree，outofwhichI
hadbeenthrownbytheChatterer。Itwasstilloccupied。Therehadbeenincreaseinthefamily。
Clingingtighttomymotherwasalittlebaby。Also，therewasagirl，partlygrown，whocautiouslyregardedusfromoneofthelowerbranches。Shewasevidentlymysister，orhalf-sister，rather。
Mymotherrecognizedme，butshewarnedmeawaywhenI
startedtoclimbintothetree。Lop-Ear，whowasmorecautiousbyfarthanI，beataretreat，norcouldI
persuadehimtoreturn。Laterintheday，however，mysistercamedowntotheground，andthereandinneighboringtreeswerompedandplayedallafternoon。
Andthencametrouble。Shewasmysister，butthatdidnotpreventherfromtreatingmeabominably，forshehadinheritedalltheviciousnessoftheChatterer。
Sheturneduponmesuddenly，inapettyrage，andscratchedme，toremyhair，andsankhersharplittleteethdeepintomyforearm。Ilostmytemper。Ididnotinjureher，butitwasundoubtedlythesoundestspankingshehadreceiveduptothattime。
Howsheyelledandsqualled。TheChatterer，whohadbeenawayalldayandwhowasonlythenreturning，heardthenoiseandrushedforthespot。Mymotheralsorushed，buthegottherefirst。Lop-EarandIdidnotwaithiscoming。Wewereoffandaway，andtheChatterergaveusthechaseofourlivesthroughthetrees。
Afterthechasewasover，andLop-EarandIhadhadoutourlaugh，wediscoveredthattwilightwasfalling。
Herewasnightwithallitsterrorsuponus，andtoreturntothecaveswasoutofthequestion。Red-Eyemadethatimpossible。Wetookrefugeinatreethatstoodapartfromothertrees，andhighupinaforkwepassedthenight。Itwasamiserablenight。Forthefirstfewhoursitrainedheavily，thenitturnedcoldandachillwindblewuponus。Soakedthrough，withshiveringbodiesandchatteringteeth，wehuddledineachother’sarms。Wemissedthesnug，drycavethatsoquicklywarmedwiththeheatofourbodies。
Morningfounduswretchedandresolved。Wewouldnotspendanothersuchnight。Rememberingthetree-sheltersofourelders，wesettoworktomakeoneforourselves。Webuilttheframeworkofaroughnest，andonhigherforksoverheadevengotinseveralridge-polesfortheroof。Thenthesuncameout，andunderitsbenigninfluenceweforgotthehardshipsofthenightandwentoffinsearchofbreakfast。Afterthat，toshowtheinconsequentialityoflifeinthosedays，wefelltoplaying。Itmusthavetakenusallofamonth，workingintermittently，tomakeourtree-house;andthen，whenitwascompleted，weneveruseditagain。
ButIrunaheadofmystory。Whenwefelltoplaying，afterbreakfast，ontheseconddayawayfromthecaves，Lop-Earledmeachasethroughthetreesanddowntotheriver。Wecameoutuponitwherealargesloughenteredfromtheblueberryswamp。Themouthofthissloughwaswide，whilethesloughitselfwaspracticallywithoutacurrent。Inthedeadwater，justinsideitsmouth，layatangledmassoftreetrunks。
Someofthese，whatofthewearandtearoffreshetsandofbeingstrandedlongsummersonsand-bars，wereseasonedanddryandwithoutbranches。Theyfloatedhighinthewater，andbobbedupanddownorrolledoverwhenweputourweightuponthem。
Hereandtherebetweenthetrunkswerewater-cracks，andthroughthemwecouldseeschoolsofsmallfish，likeminnows，dartingbackandforth。Lop-EarandI
becamefishermenatonce。Lyingflatonthelogs，keepingperfectlyquiet，waitingtilltheminnowscameclose，wewouldmakeswiftpasseswithourhands。Ourprizesweateonthespot，wrigglingandmoist。Wedidnotnoticethelackofsalt。
Themouthofthesloughbecameourfavoriteplayground。
Herewespentmanyhourseachday，catchingfishandplayingonthelogs，andhere，oneday，welearnedourfirstlessonsinnavigation。ThelogonwhichLop-Earwaslyinggotadrift。Hewascurleduponhisside，asleep。Alightfanofairslowlydriftedthelogawayfromtheshore，andwhenInoticedhispredicamentthedistancewasalreadytoogreatforhimtoleap。
Atfirsttheepisodeseemedmerelyfunnytome。Butwhenoneofthevagrantimpulsesoffear，commoninthatageofperpetualinsecurity，movedwithinme，I
wasstruckwithmyownloneliness。IwasmadesuddenlyawareofLop-Ear’sremotenessoutthereonthatalienelementafewfeetaway。Icalledloudlytohimawarningcry。Heawokefrightened，andshiftedhisweightrashlyonthelog。Itturnedover，sousinghimunder。Threetimesagainitsousedhimunderashetriedtoclimboutuponit。Thenhesucceeded，crouchinguponitandchatteringwithfear。
Icoulddonothing。Norcouldhe。Swimmingwassomethingofwhichweknewnothing。Wewerealreadytoofarremovedfromthelowerlife-formstohavetheinstinctforswimming，andwehadnotyetbecomesufficientlyman-liketoundertakeitastheworkingoutofaproblem。Iroameddisconsolatelyupanddownthebank，keepingasclosetohiminhisinvoluntarytravelsasIcould，whilehewailedandcriedtillitwasawonderthathedidnotbringdownuponuseveryhuntinganimalwithinamile。
Thehourspassed。Thesunclimbedoverheadandbeganitsdescenttothewest。ThelightwinddieddownandleftLop-Earonhislogfloatingaroundahundredfeetaway。Andthen，somehow，Iknownothow，Lop-Earmadethegreatdiscovery。Hebeganpaddlingwithhishands。
Atfirsthisprogresswasslowanderratic。Thenhestraightenedoutandbeganlaboriouslytopaddlenearerandnearer。Icouldnotunderstand。Isatdownandwatchedandwaiteduntilhegainedtheshore。
Buthehadlearnedsomething，whichwasmorethanIhaddone。Laterintheafternoon，hedeliberatelylaunchedoutfromshoreonthelog。Stilllaterhepersuadedmetojoinhim，andI，too，learnedthetrickofpaddling。
Forthenextseveraldayswecouldnottearourselvesawayfromtheslough。Soabsorbedwereweinournewgamethatwealmostneglectedtoeat。Weevenroostedinanearbytreeatnight。AndweforgotthatRed-Eyeexisted。
Wewerealwaystryingnewlogs，andwelearnedthatthesmallerthelogthefasterwecouldmakeitgo。Also，welearnedthatthesmallerthelogthemoreliableitwastorolloverandgiveusaducking。Stillanotherthingaboutsmalllogswelearned。Onedaywepaddledourindividuallogsalongsideeachother。Andthen，quitebyaccident，inthecourseofplay，wediscoveredthatwheneach，withonehandandfoot，heldontotheother’slog，thelogsweresteadiedanddidnotturnover。Lyingsidebysideinthisposition，ouroutsidehandsandfeetwereleftfreeforpaddling。Ourfinaldiscoverywasthatthisarrangementenabledustousestillsmallerlogsandtherebygaingreaterspeed。Andthereourdiscoveriesended。Wehadinventedthemostprimitivecatamaran，andwedidnothavesenseenoughtoknowit。Itneverenteredourheadstolashthelogstogetherwithtoughvinesorstringyroots。Wewerecontenttoholdthelogstogetherwithourhandsandfeet。
Itwasnotuntilwegotoverourfirstenthusiasmfornavigationandhadbeguntoreturntoourtree-sheltertosleepatnight，thatwefoundtheSwiftOne。Isawherfirst，gatheringyoungacornsfromthebranchesofalargeoaknearourtree。Shewasverytimid。Atfirst，shekeptverystill;butwhenshesawthatshewasdiscoveredshedroppedtothegroundanddashedwildlyaway。Wecaughtoccasionalglimpsesofherfromdaytoday，andcametolookforherwhenwetravelledbackandforthbetweenourtreeandthemouthoftheslough。
Andthen，oneday，shedidnotrunaway。Shewaitedourcoming，andmadesoftpeace-sounds。Wecouldnotgetverynear，however。Whenweseemedtoapproachtooclose，shedartedsuddenlyawayandfromasafedistanceutteredthesoftsoundsagain。Thiscontinuedforsomedays。Ittookalongwhiletogetacquaintedwithher，butfinallyitwasaccomplishedandshejoinedussometimesinourplay。
Ilikedherfromthefirst。Shewasofmostpleasingappearance。Shewasverymild。HereyeswerethemildestIhadeverseen。InthisshewasquiteunliketherestofthegirlsandwomenoftheFolk，whowerebornviragos。Shenevermadeharsh，angrycries，anditseemedtobehernaturetofleeawayfromtroubleratherthantoremainandfight。
ThemildnessIhavementionedseemedtoemanatefromherwholebeing。Herbodilyaswellasfacialappearancewasthecauseofthis。Hereyeswerelargerthanmostofherkind，andtheywerenotsodeep-set，whilethelasheswerelongerandmoreregular。Norwashernosesothickandsquat。Ithadquiteabridge，andthenostrilsopeneddownward。Herincisorswerenotlarge，norwasherupperliplonganddown-hanging，norherlowerlipprotruding。Shewasnotveryhairy，exceptontheoutsidesofarmsandlegsandacrosstheshoulders;andwhileshewasthin-hipped，hercalveswerenottwistedandgnarly。
Ihaveoftenwondered，lookingbackuponherfromthetwentiethcenturythroughthemediumofmydreams，andithasalwaysoccurredtomethatpossiblyshemayhavebeenrelatedtotheFirePeople。Herfather，ormother，mightwellhavecomefromthathigherstock。
Whilesuchthingswerenotcommon，stilltheydidoccur，andIhaveseentheproofofthemwithmyowneyes，eventotheextentofmembersofthehordeturningrenegadeandgoingtolivewiththeTreePeople。
Allofwhichisneitherherenorthere。TheSwiftOnewasradicallydifferentfromanyofthefemalesofthehorde，andIhadalikingforherfromthefirst。Hermildnessandgentlenessattractedme。Shewasneverrough，andsheneverfought。Shealwaysranaway，andrightheremaybenotedthesignificanceofthenamingofher。ShewasabetterclimberthanLop-EarorI。
Whenweplayedtagwecouldnevercatchherexceptbyaccident，whileshecouldcatchusatwill。Shewasremarkablyswiftinallhermovements，andshehadageniusforjudgingdistancesthatwasequalledonlybyherdaring。Excessivelytimidinallothermatters，shewaswithoutfearwhenitcametoclimbingorrunningthroughthetrees，andLop-EarandIwereawkwardandlumberingandcowardlyincomparison。
Shewasanorphan。Weneversawherwithanyone，andtherewasnotellinghowlongshehadlivedaloneintheworld。Shemusthavelearnedearlyinherhelplesschildhoodthatsafetylayonlyinflight。Shewasverywiseandverydiscreet。ItbecameasortofgamewithLop-Earandmetotrytofindwhereshelived。Itwascertainthatshehadatree-sheltersomewhere，andnotveryfaraway;buttrailheraswewould，wecouldneverfindit。Shewaswillingenoughtojoinwithusatplayintheday-time，butthesecretofherabiding-placesheguardedjealously。
CHAPTERXI
ItmustberememberedthatthedescriptionIhavejustgivenoftheSwiftOneisnotthedescriptionthatwouldhavebeengivenbyBig-Tooth，myotherselfofmydreams，myprehistoricancestor。ItisbythemediumofmydreamsthatI，themodernman，lookthroughtheeyesofBig-Toothandsee。
AndsoitiswithmuchthatInarrateoftheeventsofthatfar-offtime。Thereisadualityaboutmyimpressionsthatistooconfusingtoinflictuponmyreaders。Ishallmerelypausehereinmynarrativetoindicatethisduality，thisperplexingmixingofpersonality。ItisI，themodern，wholookbackacrossthecenturiesandweighandanalyzetheemotionsandmotivesofBig-Tooth，myotherself。Hedidnotbothertoweighandanalyze。Hewassimplicityitself。
Hejustlivedevents，withouteverponderingwhyhelivedtheminhisparticularandoftenerraticway。
AsI，myrealself，grewolder，Ienteredmoreandmoreintothesubstanceofmydreams。Onemaydream，andeveninthemidstofthedreambeawarethatheisdreaming，andifthedreambebad，comforthimselfwiththethoughtthatitisonlyadream。Thisisacommonexperiencewithallofus。AndsoitwasthatI，themodern，oftenenteredintomydreaming，andintheconsequentstrangedualpersonalitywasbothactorandspectator。AndrightoftenhaveI，themodern，beenperturbedandvexedbythefoolishness，illogic，obtuseness，andgeneralall-roundstupendousstupidityofmyself，theprimitive。
Andonethingmore，beforeIendthisdigression。Haveyoueverdreamedthatyoudreamed？Dogsdream，horsesdream，allanimalsdream。InBig-Tooth’sdaythehalf-mendreamed，andwhenthedreamswerebadtheyhowledintheirsleep。NowI，themodern，havelaindownwithBig-Toothanddreamedhisdreams。
Thisisgettingalmostbeyondthegripoftheintellect，Iknow;butIdoknowthatIhavedonethisthing。AndletmetellyouthattheflyingandcrawlingdreamsofBig-Toothwereasvividtohimasthefalling-through-spacedreamistoyou。
ForBig-Toothalsohadanother-self，andwhenhesleptthatother-selfdreamedbackintothepast，backtothewingedreptilesandtheclashandtheonsetofdragons，andbeyondthattothescurrying，rodent-likelifeofthetinymammals，andfarremoterstill，totheshore-slimeoftheprimevalsea。Icannot，Idarenot，saymore。Itisalltoovagueandcomplicatedandawful。IcanonlyhintofthosevastandterrificvistasthroughwhichIhavepeeredhazilyattheprogressionoflife，notupwardfromtheapetoman，butupwardfromtheworm。
Andnowtoreturntomytale。I，Big-Tooth，knewnottheSwiftOneasacreatureoffinerfacialandbodilysymmetry，withlong-lashedeyesandabridgetohernoseanddown-openingnostrilsthatmadetowardbeauty。
Iknewheronlyasthemild-eyedyoungfemalewhomadesoftsoundsanddidnotfight。Ilikedtoplaywithher，Iknewnotwhy，toseekfoodinhercompany，andtogobird-nestingwithher。AndImustconfessshetaughtmethingsabouttree-climbing。Shewasverywise，verystrong，andnoclingingskirtsimpededhermovements。
ItwasaboutthistimethataslightdefectionaroseonthepartofLop-Ear。Hegotintothehabitofwanderingoffinthedirectionofthetreewheremymotherlived。Hehadtakenalikingtomyvicioussister，andtheChattererhadcometotoleratehim。
Also，therewereseveralotheryoungpeople，progenyofthemonogamiccouplesthatlivedintheneighborhood，andLop-Earplayedwiththeseyoungpeople。
IcouldnevergettheSwiftOnetojoinwiththem。
WheneverIvisitedthemshedroppedbehindanddisappeared。Irememberoncemakingastrongefforttopersuadeher。Butshecastbackward，anxiousglances，thenretreated，callingtomefromatree。SoitwasthatIdidnotmakeapracticeofaccompanyingLop-Earwhenhewenttovisithisnewfriends。TheSwiftOneandIweregoodcomrades，but，tryasIwould，Icouldneverfindhertree-shelter。Undoubtedly，hadnothinghappened，wewouldhavesoonmated，forourlikingwasmutual;butthesomethingdidhappen。
Onemorning，theSwiftOnenothavingputinanappearance，Lop-EarandIweredownatthemouthofthesloughplayingonthelogs。Wehadscarcelygotoutonthewater，whenwewerestartledbyaroarofrage。ItwasRed-Eye。Hewascrouchingontheedgeofthetimberjamandgloweringhishatredatus。Wewerebadlyfrightened，forherewasnonarrow-mouthedcaveforrefuge。Butthetwentyfeetofwaterthatintervenedgaveustemporarysafety，andwepluckedupcourage。
Red-Eyestooduperectandbeganbeatinghishairychestwithhisfist。Ourtwologsweresidebyside，andwesatonthemandlaughedathim。Atfirstourlaughterwashalf-hearted，tingedwithfear，butaswebecameconvincedofhisimpotencewewaxeduproarious。
Heragedandragedatus，andgroundhisteethinhelplessfury。Andinourfanciedsecuritywemockedandmockedhim。Wewereevershort-sighted，weFolk。
Red-Eyeabruptlyceasedhisbreast-beatingandtooth-grinding，andranacrossthetimber-jamtotheshore。Andjustasabruptlyourmerrimentgavewaytoconsternation。ItwasnotRed-Eye’swaytoforegorevengesoeasily。Wewaitedinfearandtremblingforwhateverwastohappen。Itneverstruckustopaddleaway。Hecamebackwithgreatleapsacrossthejam，onehugehandfilledwithround，water-washedpebbles。
Iamgladthathewasunabletofindlargermissiles，saystonesweighingtwoorthreepounds，forwewerenomorethanascoreoffeetaway，andhesurelywouldhavekilledus。
Asitwas，wewereinnosmalldanger。Zip！Atinypebblewhirredpastwiththeforcealmostofabullet。
Lop-EarandIbeganpaddlingfrantically。
Whiz-zip-bang！Lop-Earscreamedwithsuddenanguish。
Thepebblehadstruckhimbetweentheshoulders。ThenI
gotoneandyelled。TheonlythingthatsaveduswastheexhaustingofRed-Eye’sammunition。Hedashedbacktothegravel-bedformore，whileLop-EarandI
paddledaway。
Graduallywedrewoutofrange，thoughRed-Eyecontinuedmakingtripsformoreammunitionandthepebblescontinuedtowhizaboutus。Outinthecentreofthesloughtherewasaslightcurrent，andinourexcitementwefailedtonoticethatitwasdriftingusintotheriver。Wepaddled，andRed-Eyekeptascloseashecouldtousbyfollowingalongtheshore。Thenhediscoveredlargerrocks。Suchammunitionincreasedhisrange。Onefragment，fullyfivepoundsinweight，crashedonthelogalongsideofme，andsuchwasitsimpactthatitdroveascoreofsplinters，likefieryneedles，intomyleg。Haditstruckmeitwouldhavekilledme。
Andthentherivercurrentcaughtus。SowildlywerewepaddlingthatRed-Eyewasthefirsttonoticeit，andourfirstwarningwashisyelloftriumph。Wheretheedgeofthecurrentstrucktheslough-waterwasaseriesofeddiesorsmallwhirlpools。Thesecaughtourclumsylogsandwhirledthemendforend，backandforthandaround。Wequitpaddlinganddevotedourwholeenergytoholdingthelogstogetheralongsideeachother。InthemeanwhileRed-Eyecontinuedtobombardus，therockfragmentsfallingaboutus，splashingwateronus，andmenacingourlives。Atthesametimehegloatedoverus，wildlyandvociferously。
Ithappenedthattherewasasharpturnintheriveratthepointwherethesloughentered，andthewholemaincurrentoftheriverwasdeflectedtotheotherbank。
Andtowardthatbank，whichwasthenorthbank，wedriftedrapidly，atthesametimegoingdown-stream。
ThisquicklytookusoutofrangeofRed-Eye，andthelastwesawofhimwasfaroutonapointofland，wherehewasjumpingupanddownandchantingapaeanofvictory。
Beyondholdingthetwologstogether，Lop-EarandIdidnothing。Wewereresignedtoourfate，andweremainedresigneduntilwearousedtothefactthatweweredriftingalongthenorthshorenotahundredfeetaway。
Webegantopaddleforit。Herethemainforceofthecurrentwasflungbacktowardthesouthshore，andtheresultofourpaddlingwasthatwecrossedthecurrentwhereitwasswiftestandnarrowest。Beforewewereaware，wewereoutofitandinaquieteddy。
Ourlogsdriftedslowlyandatlastgroundedgentlyonthebank。Lop-EarandIcreptashore。Thelogsdriftedonoutoftheeddyandsweptawaydownthestream。Welookedateachother，butwedidnotlaugh。Wewereinastrangeland，anditdidnotenterourmindsthatwecouldreturntoourownlandinthesamemannerthatwehadcome。
Wehadlearnedhowtocrossariver，thoughwedidnotknowit。AndthiswassomethingthatnooneelseoftheFolkhadeverdone。WewerethefirstoftheFolktosetfootonthenorthbankoftheriver，and，forthatmatter，Ibelievethelast。Thattheywouldhavedonesointhetimetocomeisundoubted;butthemigrationoftheFirePeople，andtheconsequentmigrationofthesurvivorsoftheFolk，setbackourevolutionforcenturies。
Indeed，thereisnotellinghowdisastrouswastobetheoutcomeoftheFirePeople’smigration。
Personally，IampronetobelievethatitbroughtaboutthedestructionoftheFolk;thatwe，abranchoflowerlifebuddingtowardthehuman，werenippedshortoffandperisheddownbytheroaringsurfwheretheriverenteredthesea。Ofcourse，insuchaneventuality，I
remaintobeaccountedfor;butIoutrunmystory，andsuchaccountingwillbemadebeforeIamdone。
CHAPTERXII
IhavenoideahowlongLop-EarandIwanderedinthelandnorthoftheriver。Wewerelikemarinerswreckedonadesertisle，sofarasconcernedthelikelihoodofourgettinghomeagain。Weturnedourbacksupontheriver，andforweeksandmonthsadventuredinthatwildernesswheretherewerenoFolk。Itisverydifficultformetoreconstructourjourneying，andimpossibletodoitfromdaytoday。Mostofitishazyandindistinct，thoughhereandthereIhavevividrecollectionsofthingsthathappened。
EspeciallydoIrememberthehungerweenduredonthemountainsbetweenLongLakeandFarLake，andthecalfwecaughtsleepinginthethicket。Also，therearetheTreePeoplewhodweltintheforestbetweenLongLakeandthemountains。ItwastheywhochasedusintothemountainsandcompelledustotravelontoFarLake。
First，afterwelefttheriver，weworkedtowardthewesttillwecametoasmallstreamthatflowedthroughmarshlands。Hereweturnedawaytowardthenorth，skirtingthemarshesandafterseveraldaysarrivingatwhatIhavecalledLongLake。Wespentsometimearounditsupperend，wherewefoundfoodinplenty;
andthen，oneday，intheforest，weranfouloftheTreePeople。Thesecreatureswereferociousapes，nothingmore。Andyettheywerenotsodifferentfromus。Theyweremorehairy，itistrue;theirlegswereatriflemoretwistedandgnarly，theireyesabitsmaller，theirnecksabitthickerandshorter，andtheirnostrilsslightlymorelikeorificesinasunkensurface;buttheyhadnohairontheirfacesandonthepalmsoftheirhandsandthesolesoftheirfeet，andtheymadesoundssimilartoourswithsomewhatsimilarmeanings。Afterall，theTreePeopleandtheFolkwerenotsounlike。
Ifoundhimfirst，alittlewithered，dried-upoldfellow，wrinkled-facedandbleary-eyedandtottery。Hewaslegitimateprey。Inourworldtherewasnosympathybetweenthekinds，andhewasnotourkind。
HewasaTree-Man，andhewasveryold。Hewassittingatthefootofatree——evidentlyhistree，forwecouldseethetatterednestinthebranches，inwhichhesleptatnight。
IpointedhimouttoLop-Ear，andwemadearushforhim。Hestartedtoclimb，butwastooslow。Icaughthimbytheleganddraggedhimback。Thenwehadfun。
Wepinchedhim，pulledhishair，tweakedhisears，andpokedtwigsintohim，andallthewhilewelaughedwithstreamingeyes。Hisfutileangerwasmostabsurd。Hewasacomicalsight，strivingtofanintoflamethecoldashesofhisyouth，toresurrecthisstrengthdeadandgonethroughtheoozingoftheyears——makingwofulfacesinplaceoftheferociousonesheintended，grindinghiswornteethtogether，beatinghismeagrechestwithfeeblefists。
Also，hehadacough，andhegaspedandhackedandsplutteredprodigiously。Everytimehetriedtoclimbthetreewepulledhimback，untilatlasthesurrenderedtohisweaknessanddidnomorethansitandweep。AndLop-EarandIsatwithhim，ourarmsaroundeachother，andlaughedathiswretchedness。
Fromweepinghewenttowhining，andfromwhiningtowailing，untilatlastheachievedascream。Thisalarmedus，butthemorewetriedtomakehimcease，thelouderhescreamed。Andthen，fromnotfarawayintheforest，camea\"Goek！Goek！\"toourears。Tothistherewereansweringcries，severalofthem，andfromveryfaroffwecouldhearabig，bass\"Goek！Goek！
Goek！\"Also，the\"Whoo-whoo！\"callwasrisingintheforestallaroundus。
Thencamethechase。Itseemeditneverwouldend。
Theyracedusthroughthetrees，thewholetribeofthem，andnearlycaughtus。Wewereforcedtotaketotheground，andherewehadtheadvantage，fortheyweretrulytheTreePeople，andwhiletheyout-climbedusweout-footedthemontheground。Webrokeawaytowardthenorth，thetribehowlingonourtrack。
Acrosstheopenspaceswegained，andinthebrushtheycaughtupwithus，andmorethanonceitwasnipandtuck。Andasthechasecontinued，werealizedthatwewerenottheirkind，either，andthatthebondsbetweenuswereanythingbutsympathetic。
Theyranusforhours。Theforestseemedinterminable。
Wekepttothegladesasmuchaspossible，buttheyalwaysendedinmorethickforest。Sometimeswethoughtwehadescaped，andsatdowntorest;butalways，beforewecouldrecoverourbreath，wewouldhearthehateful\"Whoo-whoo！\"criesandtheterrible\"Goek！Goek！Goek！\"Thislattersometimesterminatedinasavage\"Hahahahahaaaaa！！！\"
AndinthisfashionwerewehuntedthroughtheforestbytheexasperatedTreePeople。Atlast，bymid-afternoon，theslopesbeganrisinghigherandhigherandthetreeswerebecomingsmaller。Thenwecameoutonthegrassyflanksofthemountains。Herewaswherewecouldmaketime，andheretheTreePeoplegaveupandreturnedtotheirforest。
Themountainswerebleakandinhospitable，andthreetimesthatafternoonwetriedtoregainthewoods。ButtheTreePeoplewerelyinginwait，andtheydroveusback。Lop-EarandIsleptthatnightinadwarftree，nolargerthanabush。Herewasnosecurity，andwewouldhavebeeneasypreyforanyhuntinganimalthatchancedalong。
Inthemorning，whatofournew-gainedrespectfortheTreePeople，wefacedintothemountains。Thatwehadnodefiniteplan，orevenidea，Iamconfident。Weweremerelydrivenonbythedangerwehadescaped。OfourwanderingsthroughthemountainsIhaveonlymistymemories。Wewereinthatbleakregionmanydays，andwesufferedmuch，especiallyfromfear，itwasallsonewandstrange。Also，wesufferedfromthecold，andlaterfromhunger。
It——wasadesolatelandofrocksandfoamingstreamsandclatteringcataracts。Weclimbedanddescendedmightycanyonsandgorges;andever，fromeveryviewpoint，therespreadoutbeforeus，inalldirections，rangeuponrange，theunceasingmountains。Wesleptatnightinholesandcrevices，andononecoldnightweperchedontopaslenderpinnacleofrockthatwasalmostlikeatree。
Andthen，atlast，onehotmidday，dizzywithhunger，wegainedthedivide。Fromthishighbackboneofearth，tothenorth，acrossthediminishing，down-fallingranges，wecaughtaglimpseofafarlake。
Thesunshoneuponit，andaboutitwereopen，levelgrass-lands，whiletotheeastwardwesawthedarklineofawide-stretchingforest。
Weweretwodaysingainingthelake，andwewereweakwithhunger;butonitsshore，sleepingsnuglyinathicket，wefoundapart-growncalf。Itgaveusmuchtrouble，forweknewnootherwaytokillthanwithourhands。Whenwehadgorgedourfill，wecarriedtheremainderofthemeattotheeastwardforestandhiditinatree。Weneverreturnedtothattree，fortheshoreofthestreamthatdrainedFarLakewaspackedthickwithsalmonthathadcomeupfromtheseatospawn。
Westwardfromthelakestretchedthegrass-lands，andhereweremultitudesofbisonandwildcattle。Alsoweretheremanypacksofwilddogs，andastherewerenotreesitwasnotasafeplaceforus。Wefollowednorthalongthestreamfordays。Then，andforwhatreasonIdonotknow，weabruptlyleftthestreamandswungtotheeast，andthentothesoutheast，throughagreatforest。Ishallnotboreyouwithourjourney。
IbutindicateittoshowhowwefinallyarrivedattheFirePeople’scountry。
Wecameoutupontheriver，butwedidnotknowitforourriver。Wehadbeenlostsolongthatwehadcometoaccepttheconditionofbeinglostashabitual。AsI
lookbackIseeclearlyhowourlivesanddestiniesareshapedbythemerestchance。Wedidnotknowitwasourriver——therewasnowayoftelling;andifwehadnevercrosseditwewouldmostprobablyhaveneverreturnedtothehorde;andI，themodern，thethousandcenturiesyettobeborn，wouldneverhavebeenborn。
AndyetLop-EarandIwantedgreatlytoreturn。Wehadexperiencedhomesicknessonourjourney，theyearningforourownkindandland;andoftenhadIhadrecollectionsoftheSwiftOne，theyoungfemalewhomadesoftsounds，whomitwasgoodtobewith，andwholivedbyherselfnobodyknewwhere。Myrecollectionsofherwereaccompaniedbysensationsofhunger，andtheseIfeltwhenIwasnothungryandwhenIhadjusteaten。
Buttocomebacktotheriver。Foodwasplentiful，principallyberriesandsucculentroots，andontheriverbankweplayedandlingeredfordays。AndthentheideacametoLop-Ear。Itwasavisibleprocess，thecomingoftheidea。Isawit。Theexpressioninhiseyesbecameplaintiveandquerulous，andhewasgreatlyperturbed。Thenhiseyeswentmuddy，asifhehadlosthisgripontheinchoatethought。Thiswasfollowedbytheplaintive，querulousexpressionastheideapersistedandheclutcheditanew。Helookedatme，andattheriverandthefarshore。Hetriedtospeak，buthadnosoundswithwhichtoexpresstheidea。Theresultwasagibberishthatmademelaugh。
Thisangeredhim，andhegrabbedmesuddenlyandthrewmeonmyback。Ofcoursewefought，andintheendI
chasedhimupatree，wherehesecuredalongbranchandpokedmeeverytimeItriedtogetathim。
Andtheideahadgoneglimmering。Ididnotknow，andhehadforgotten。Butthenextmorningitawokeinhimagain。Perhapsitwasthehominginstinctinhimassertingitselfthatmadetheideapersist。Atanyrateitwasthere，andclearerthanbefore。Heledmedowntothewater，wherealoghadgroundedinaneddy。
Ithoughthewasmindedtoplay，aswehadplayedinthemouthoftheslough。NordidIchangemymindasI
watchedhimtowupasecondlogfromfartherdowntheshore。
Itwasnotuntilwewereonthelogs，sidebysideandholdingthemtogether，andhadpaddledoutintothecurrent，thatIlearnedhisintention。Hepausedtopointatthefarshore，andresumedhispaddling，atthesametimeutteringloudandencouragingcries。I
understood，andwepaddledenergetically。Theswiftcurrentcaughtus，flungustowardthesouthshore，butbeforewecouldmakealandingflungusbacktowardthenorthshore。
Herearosedissension。Seeingthenorthshoresonear，Ibegantopaddleforit。Lop-Eartriedtopaddleforthesouthshore。Thelogsswungaroundincircles，andwegotnowhere，andallthetimetheforestwasflashingpastaswedrifteddownthestream。Wecouldnotfight。Weknewbetterthantoletgothegripsofhandsandfeetthatheldthelogstogether。Butwechatteredandabusedeachotherwithourtonguesuntilthecurrentflungustowardthesouthbankagain。Thatwasnowthenearestgoal，andtogetherandamicablywepaddledforit。Welandedinaneddy，andclimbeddirectlyintothetreestoreconnoitre。
CHAPTERXIII
ItwasnotuntilthenightofourfirstdayonthesouthbankoftheriverthatwediscoveredtheFirePeople。WhatmusthavebeenabandofwanderinghunterswentintocampnotfarfromthetreeinwhichLop-EarandIhadelectedtoroostforthenight。ThevoicesoftheFirePeopleatfirstalarmedus，butlater，whendarknesshadcome，wewereattractedbythefire。Wecreptcautiouslyandsilentlyfromtreetotreetillwegotagoodviewofthescene。
Inanopenspaceamongthetrees，neartotheriver，thefirewasburning。AboutitwerehalfadozenFire-Men。Lop-Earclutchedmesuddenly，andIcouldfeelhimtremble。Ilookedmoreclosely，andsawthewizenedlittleoldhunterwhohadshotBroken-Toothoutofthetreeyearsbefore。Whenhegotupandwalkedabout，throwingfreshwooduponthefire，Isawthathelimpedwithhiscrippledleg。Whateveritwas，itwasapermanentinjury。Heseemedmoredriedupandwizenedthanever，andthehaironhisfacewasquitegray。
Theotherhunterswereyoungmen。Inoted，lyingnearthemontheground，theirbowsandarrows，andIknewtheweaponsforwhattheywere。TheFire-Menworeanimalskinsaroundtheirwaistsandacrosstheirshoulders。Theirarmsandlegs，however，werebare，andtheyworenofootgear。AsIhavesaidbefore，theywerenotquitesohairyasweoftheFolk。Theydidnothavelargeheads，andbetweenthemandtheFolktherewasverylittledifferenceinthedegreeoftheslantoftheheadbackfromtheeyes。
Theywerelessstoopedthanwe，lessspringyintheirmovements。Theirbackbonesandhipsandknee-jointsseemedmorerigid。Theirarmswerenotsolongasourseither，andIdidnotnoticethattheyeverbalancedthemselveswhentheywalked，bytouchingthegroundoneithersidewiththeirhands。Also，theirmusclesweremoreroundedandsymmetricalthanours，andtheirfacesweremorepleasing。Theirnoseorificesopeneddownward;likewisethebridgesoftheirnosesweremoredeveloped，didnotlooksosquatnorcrushedasours。
Theirlipswerelessflabbyandpendent，andtheireye-teethdidnotlooksomuchlikefangs。However，theywerequiteasthin-hippedaswe，anddidnotweighmuchmore。Takeitallinall，theywerelessdifferentfromusthanwerewefromtheTreePeople。Certainly，allthreekindswererelated，andnotsoremotelyrelatedatthat。
Thefirearoundwhichtheysatwasespeciallyattractive。Lop-EarandIsatforhours，watchingtheflamesandsmoke。Itwasmostfascinatingwhenfreshfuelwasthrownonandshowersofsparkswentflyingupward。Iwantedtocomecloserandlookatthefire，buttherewasnoway。Wewerecrouchingintheforksofatreeontheedgeoftheopenspace，andwedidnotdareruntheriskofbeingdiscovered。
TheFire-Mensquattedaroundthefireandsleptwiththeirheadsbowedforwardontheirknees。Theydidnotsleepsoundly。Theirearstwitchedintheirsleep，andtheywererestless。Everylittlewhileoneoranothergotupandthrewmorewooduponthefire。Aboutthecircleoflightintheforest，inthedarknessbeyond，roamedhuntinganimals。Lop-EarandIcouldtellthembytheirsounds。Therewerewilddogsandahyena，andforatimetherewasagreatyelpingandsnarlingthatawakenedontheinstantthewholecircleofsleepingFire-Men。
Oncealionandalionessstoodbeneathourtreeandgazedoutwithbristlinghairandblinkingeyes。Thelionlickedhischopsandwasnervouswitheagerness，asifhewantedtogoforwardandmakeameal。Butthelionesswasmorecautious。Itwasshethatdiscoveredus，andthepairstoodandlookedupatus，silently，withtwitching，scentingnostrils。Thentheygrowled，lookedonceagainatthefire，andturnedawayintotheforest。
ForamuchlongertimeLop-EarandIremainedandwatched。Nowandagainwecouldhearthecrashingofheavybodiesinthethicketsandunderbrush，andfromthedarknessoftheotherside，acrossthecircle，wecouldseeeyesgleaminginthefirelight。Inthedistanceweheardalionroar，andfromfaroffcamethescreamofsomestrickenanimal，splashingandflounderinginadrinking-place。Also，fromtheriver，cameagreatgruntingofrhinoceroses。
Inthemorning，afterhavinghadoursleep，wecreptbacktothefire。Itwasstillsmouldering，andtheFire-Menweregone。Wemadeacirclethroughtheforesttomakesure，andthenwerantothefire。I
wantedtoseewhatitwaslike，andbetweenthumbandfingerIpickedupaglowingcoal。Mycryofpainandfear，asIdroppedit，stampededLop-Earintothetrees，andhisflightfrightenedmeafterhim。
Thenexttimewecamebackmorecautiously，andweavoidedtheglowingcoals。WefelltoimitatingtheFire-Men。Wesquatteddownbythefire，andwithheadsbentforwardonourknees，madebelievetosleep。Thenwemimickedtheirspeech，talkingtoeachotherintheirfashionandmakingagreatgibberish。I
rememberedseeingthewizenedoldhunterpokethefirewithastick。Ipokedthefirewithastick，turningupmassesoflivecoalsandcloudsofwhiteashes。
Thiswasgreatsport，andsoonwewerecoatedwhitewiththeashes。
ItwasinevitablethatweshouldimitatetheFire-Meninreplenishingthefire。Wetrieditfirstwithsmallpiecesofwood。Itwasasuccess。Thewoodflamedupandcrackled，andwedancedandgibberedwithdelight。
Thenwebegantothrowonlargerpiecesofwood。Weputonmoreandmore，untilwehadamightyfire。Wedashedexcitedlybackandforth，draggingdeadlimbsandbranchesfromouttheforest。Theflamessoaredhigherandhigher，andthesmoke-columnout-toweredthetrees。Therewasatremendoussnappingandcracklingandroaring。Itwasthemostmonumentalworkwehadevereffectedwithourhands，andwewereproudofit。
We，too，wereFire-Men，wethought，aswedancedthere，whitegnomesintheconflagration。
Thedriedgrassandunderbrushcaughtfire，butwedidnotnoticeit。Suddenlyagreattreeontheedgeoftheopenspaceburstintoflames。
Welookedatitwithstartledeyes。Theheatofitdroveusback。Anothertreecaught，andanother，andthenhalfadozen。Wewerefrightened。Themonsterhadbrokenloose。Wecroucheddowninfear，whilethefireatearoundthecircleandhemmedusin。IntoLop-Ear’seyescametheplaintivelookthatalwaysaccompaniedincomprehension，andIknowthatinmyeyesmusthavebeenthesamelook。Wehuddled，withourarmsaroundeachother，untiltheheatbegantoreachusandtheodorofburninghairwasinournostrils。
Thenwemadeadashofit，andfledawaywestwardthroughtheforest，lookingbackandlaughingasweran。
Bythemiddleofthedaywecametoaneckofland，made，asweafterwarddiscovered，byagreatcurveoftheriverthatalmostcompletedacircle。Rightacrossthenecklaybunchedseverallowandpartlywoodedhills。Overtheseweclimbed，lookingbackwardattheforestwhichhadbecomeaseaofflamethatswepteastwardbeforearisingwind。Wecontinuedtothewest，followingtheriverbank，andbeforeweknewitwewereinthemidstoftheabiding-placeoftheFirePeople。
Thisabiding-placewasasplendidstrategicselection。
Itwasapeninsula，protectedonthreesidesbythecurvingriver。Ononlyonesidewasitaccessiblebyland。Thiswasthenarrowneckofthepeninsula，andheretheseverallowhillswereanaturalobstacle。
Practicallyisolatedfromtherestoftheworld，theFirePeoplemusthaveherelivedandprosperedforalongtime。Infact，IthinkitwastheirprosperitythatwasresponsibleforthesubsequentmigrationthatworkedsuchcalamityupontheFolk。TheFirePeoplemusthaveincreasedinnumbersuntiltheypresseduncomfortablyagainsttheboundsoftheirhabitat。
Theywereexpanding，andinthecourseoftheirexpandingtheydrovetheFolkbeforethem，andsettleddownthemselvesinthecavesandoccupiedtheterritorythatwehadoccupied。
ButLop-EarandIlittledreamedofallthiswhenwefoundourselvesintheFirePeople’sstronghold。Wehadbutoneidea，andthatwastogetaway，thoughwecouldnotforbearhumoringourcuriositybypeepingoutuponthevillage。ForthefirsttimewesawthewomenandchildrenoftheFirePeople。Thelatterranforthemostpartnaked，thoughtheformerworeskinsofwildanimals。
TheFirePeople，likeourselves，livedincaves。Theopenspaceinfrontofthecavesslopeddowntotheriver，andintheopenspaceburnedmanysmallfires。
ButwhetherornottheFirePeoplecookedtheirfood，I
donotknow。Lop-EarandIdidnotseethemcook。Yetitismyopinionthattheysurelymusthaveperformedsomesortofrudecookery。Likeus，theycarriedwateringourdsfromtheriver。Therewasmuchcomingandgoing，andloudcriesmadebythewomenandchildren。
ThelatterplayedaboutandcutupanticsquiteinthesamewayasdidthechildrenoftheFolk，andtheymorenearlyresembledthechildrenoftheFolkthandidthegrownFirePeopleresemblethegrownFolk。
Lop-EarandIdidnotlingerlong。Wesawsomeofthepart-grownboysshootingwithbowandarrow，andwesneakedbackintothethickerforestandmadeourwaytotheriver。Andtherewefoundacatamaran，arealcatamaran，oneevidentlymadebysomeFire-Man。Thetwologsweresmallandstraight，andwerelashedtogetherbymeansoftoughrootsandcrosspiecesofwood。
Thistimetheideaoccurredsimultaneouslytous。WeweretryingtoescapeoutoftheFirePeople’sterritory。Whatbetterwaythanbycrossingtheriverontheselogs？Weclimbedonboardandshovedoff。A
suddensomethinggrippedthecatamaranandflungitdownstreamviolentlyagainstthebank。Theabruptstoppagealmostwhippedusoffintothewater。Thecatamaranwastiedtoatreebyaropeoftwistedroots。Thisweuntiedbeforeshovingoffagain。
Bythetimewehadpaddledwelloutintothecurrent，wehaddriftedsofardownstreamthatwewereinfullviewoftheFirePeople’sabiding-place。Sooccupiedwerewewithourpaddling，oureyesfixedupontheotherbank，thatweknewnothinguntilarousedbyayellfromtheshore。Welookedaround。ThereweretheFirePeople，manyofthem，lookingatusandpointingatus，andmorewerecrawlingoutofthecaves。Wesatuptowatch，andforgotallaboutpaddling。Therewasagreathullabalooontheshore。SomeoftheFire-Mendischargedtheirbowsatus，andafewofthearrowsfellnearus，buttherangewastoogreat。
ItwasagreatdayforLop-Earandme。Totheeasttheconflagrationwehadstartedwasfillinghalftheskywithsmoke。Andherewewere，perfectlysafeinthemiddleoftheriver，encirclingtheFirePeople’sstronghold。Wesatandlaughedatthemaswedashedby，swingingsouth，andsoutheasttoeast，andeventonortheast，andtheneastagain，southeastandsouthandonaroundtothewest，agreatdoublecurvewheretherivernearlytiedaknotinitself。
Aswesweptontothewest，theFirePeoplefarbehind，afamiliarsceneflasheduponoureyes。
Itwasthegreatdrinking-place，wherewehadwanderedonceortwicetowatchthecircusoftheanimalswhentheycamedowntodrink。Beyondit，weknew，wasthecarrotpatch，andbeyondthatthecavesandtheabiding-placeofthehorde。Webegantopaddleforthebankthatslidswiftlypast，andbeforeweknewitweweredownuponthedrinking-placesusedbythehorde。
Therewerethewomenandchildren，thewatercarriers，anumberofthem，fillingtheirgourds。Atsightofustheystampededmadlyuptherun-ways，leavingbehindthematrailofgourdstheyhaddropped。
Welanded，andofcourseweneglectedtotieupthecatamaran，whichfloatedoffdowntheriver。Rightcautiouslywecreptuparun-way。TheFolkhadalldisappearedintotheirholes，thoughhereandtherewecouldseeafacepeeringoutatus。TherewasnosignofRed-Eye。Wewerehomeagain。Andthatnightwesleptinourownlittlecavehighuponthecliff，thoughfirstwehadtoevictacoupleofpugnaciousyoungsterswhohadtakenpossession。
CHAPTERXIV
Themonthscameandwent。Thedramaandtragedyofthefuturewereyettocomeuponthestage，andinthemeantimewepoundednutsandlived。It——vasagoodyear，Iremember，fornuts。Weusedtofillgourdswithnutsandcarrythemtothepounding-places。Weplacedthemindepressionsintherock，and，withapieceofrockinourhands，wecrackedthemandatethemaswecracked。
ItwasthefalloftheyearwhenLop-EarandIreturnedfromourlongadventure-journey，andthewinterthatfollowedwasmild。Imadefrequenttripstotheneighborhoodofmyoldhome-tree，andfrequentlyI
searchedthewholeterritorythatlaybetweentheblueberryswampandthemouthofthesloughwhereLop-EarandIhadlearnednavigation，butnoclewcouldIgetoftheSwiftOne。Shehaddisappeared。AndI
wantedher。IwasimpelledbythathungerwhichIhavementioned，andwhichwasakintophysicalhunger，albeititcameoftenuponmewhenmystomachwasfull。
Butallmysearchwasvain。
Lifewasnotmonotonousatthecaves，however。TherewasRed-Eyetobeconsidered。Lop-EarandIneverknewamoment’speaceexceptwhenwewereinourownlittlecave。Inspiteoftheenlargementoftheentrancewehadmade，itwasstillatightsqueezeforustogetin。Andthoughfromtimetotimewecontinuedtoenlarge，itwasstilltoosmallforRed-Eye’smonstrousbody。Butheneverstormedourcaveagain。Hehadlearnedthelessonwell，andhecarriedonhisneckabulginglumptoshowwhereIhadhithimwiththerock。
Thislumpneverwentaway，anditwasprominentenoughtobeseenatadistance。Ioftentookgreatdelightinwatchingthatevidenceofmyhandiwork;andsometimes，whenIwasmyselfassuredlysafe，thesightofitcausedmetolaugh。
WhiletheotherFolkwouldnothavecometoourrescuehadRed-EyeproceededtotearLop-Earandmetopiecesbeforetheireyes，neverthelesstheysympathizedwithus。PossiblyitwasnotsympathybutthewaytheyexpressedtheirhatredforRed-Eye;atanyratetheyalwayswarnedusofhisapproach。Whetherintheforest，atthedrinking-places，orintheopenspacebeforethecaves，theywerealwaysquicktowarnus。
ThuswehadtheadvantageofmanyeyesinourfeudwithRed-Eye，theatavism。
Oncehenearlygotme。Itwasearlyinthemorning，andtheFolkwerenotyetup。Thesurprisewascomplete。Iwascutofffromthewayuptheclifftomycave。BeforeIknewitIhaddashedintothedouble-cave，——thecavewhereLop-Earhadfirsteludedmelongyearsbefore，andwhereoldSaber-ToothhadcometodiscomfiturewhenhepursuedthetwoFolk。BythetimeIhadgotthroughtheconnectingpassagebetweenthetwocaves，IdiscoveredthatRed-Eyewasnotfollowingme。Thenextmomenthechargedintothecavefromtheoutside。Islippedbackthroughthepassage，andhechargedoutandaroundandinuponmeagain。Imerelyrepeatedmyperformanceofslippingthroughthepassage。
Hekeptmetherehalfadaybeforehegaveup。Afterthat，whenLop-EarandIwerereasonablysureofgainingthedouble-cave，wedidnotretreatuptheclifftoourowncavewhenRed-Eyecameuponthescene。
Allwedidwastokeepaneyeonhimandseethathedidnotcutacrossourlineofretreat。
ItwasduringthiswinterthatRed-Eyekilledhislatestwifewithabuseandrepeatedbeatings。Ihavecalledhimanatavism，butinthishewasworsethananatavism，forthemalesoftheloweranimalsdonotmaltreatandmurdertheirmates。InthisItakeitthatRed-Eye，inspiteofhistremendousatavistictendencies，foreshadowedthecomingofman，foritisthemalesofthehumanspeciesonlythatmurdertheirmates。
Aswastobeexpected，withthedoingawayofonewifeRed-Eyeproceededtogetanother。HedecidedupontheSingingOne。ShewasthegranddaughterofoldMarrow-Bone，andthedaughteroftheHairlessOne。Shewasayoungthing，greatlygiventosingingatthemouthofhercaveinthetwilight，andshehadbutrecentlymatedwithCrooked-Leg。Hewasaquietindividual，molestingnooneandnotgiventobickeringwithhisfellows。Hewasnofighteranyway。Hewassmallandlean，andnotsoactiveonhislegsastherestofus。
Red-Eyenevercommittedamoreoutrageousdeed。Itwasinthequietattheendoftheday，whenwebegantocongregateintheopenspacebeforeclimbingintoourcaves。SuddenlytheSingingOnedasheduparun-wayfromadrinking-place，pursuedbyRed-Eye。Sherantoherhusband。PoorlittleCrooked-Legwasterriblyscared。Buthewasahero。Heknewthatdeathwasuponhim，yethedidnotrunaway。Hestoodup，andchattered，bristled，andshowedhisteeth。
Red-Eyeroaredwithrage。ItwasanoffencetohimthatanyoftheFolkshoulddaretowithstandhim。HishandshotoutandclutchedCrooked-Legbytheneck。
ThelattersankhisteethintoRed-Eye’sarm;butthenextmoment，withabrokenneck，Crooked-Legwasflounderingandsquirmingontheground。TheSingingOnescreechedandgibbered。Red-Eyeseizedherbythehairofherheadanddraggedhertowardhiscave。Hehandledherroughlywhentheclimbbegan，andhedraggedandhauledherupintothecave。
Wewereveryangry，insanely，vociferouslyangry。
Beatingourchests，bristling，andgnashingourteeth，wegatheredtogetherinourrage。Wefelttheprodofgregariousinstinct，thedrawingtogetherasthoughforunitedaction，theimpulsetowardcooperation。Indimwaysthisneedforunitedactionwasimpresseduponus。
Buttherewasnowaytoachieveitbecausetherewasnowaytoexpressit。Wedidnotturnto，allofus，anddestroyRed-Eye，becausewelackedavocabulary。Wewerevaguelythinkingthoughtsforwhichtherewerenothought-symbols。Thesethought-symbolswereyettobeslowlyandpainfullyinvented。
Wetriedtofreightsoundwiththevaguethoughtsthatflittedlikeshadowsthroughourconsciousness。TheHairlessOnebegantochatterloudly。ByhisnoisesheexpressedangeragainstRed-EyeanddesiretohurtRed-Eye。Thusfarhegot，andthusfarweunderstood。
Butwhenhetriedtoexpressthecooperativeimpulsethatstirredwithinhim，hisnoisesbecamegibberish。
ThenBig-Face，withbrow-bristlingandchest-pounding，begantochatter。Oneafteranotherofusjoinedintheorgyofrage，untilevenoldMarrow-Bonewasmumblingandsplutteringwithhiscrackedvoiceandwitheredlips。Someoneseizedastickandbeganpoundingalog。Inamomenthehadstruckarhythm。
Unconsciously，ouryellsandexclamationsyieldedtothisrhythm。Ithadasoothingeffectuponus;andbeforeweknewit，ourrageforgotten，wewereinthefullswingofahee-heecouncil。
Thesehee-heecouncilssplendidlyillustratetheinconsecutivenessandinconsequentialityoftheFolk。
Herewerewe，drawntogetherbymutualrageandtheimpulsetowardcooperation，ledoffintoforgetfulnessbytheestablishmentofaruderhythm。Weweresociableandgregarious，andthesesingingandlaughingcouncilssatisfiedus。Inwaysthehee-heecouncilwasanadumbrationofthecouncilsofprimitiveman，andofthegreatnationalassembliesandinternationalconventionsoflatter-dayman。ButweFolkoftheYoungerWorldlackedspeech，andwheneverweweresodrawntogetherweprecipitatedbabel，outofwhicharoseaunanimityofrhythmthatcontainedwithinitselftheessentialsofartyettocome。Itwasartnascent。
Therewasnothinglong-continuedabouttheserhythmsthatwestruck。Arhythmwassoonlost，andpandemoniumreigneduntilwecouldfindtherhythmagainorstartanewone。Sometimeshalfadozenrhythmswouldbeswingingsimultaneously，eachrhythmbackedbyagroupthatstroveardentlytodrownouttheotherrhythms。
Intheintervalsofpandemonium，eachchattered，cutup，hooted，screeched，anddanced，himselfsufficientuntohimself，filledwithhisownideasandvolitionstotheexclusionofallothers，averitablecentreoftheuniverse，divorcedforthetimebeingfromanyunanimitywiththeotheruniverse-centresleapingandyellingaroundhim。Thenwouldcometherhythm——aclappingofhands;thebeatingofastickuponalog;
theexampleofonethatleapedwithrepetitions;orthechantingofonethatuttered，explosivelyandregularly，withinflectionthatroseandfell，\"A-bang，a-bang！A-bang，a-bang！\"Oneafteranotheroftheself-centredFolkwouldyieldtoit，andsoonallwouldbedancingorchantinginchorus。\"Ha-ah，ha-ah，ha-ah-ha！\"wasoneofourfavoritechoruses，andanotherwas，\"Eh-wah，eh-wah，eh-wah-hah！\"
Andso，withmadantics，leaping，reeling，andover-balancing，wedancedandsanginthesombretwilightoftheprimevalworld，inducingforgetfulness，achievingunanimity，andworkingourselvesupintosensuousfrenzy。AndsoitwasthatourrageagainstRed-Eyewassoothedawaybyart，andwescreamedthewildchorusesofthehee-heecounciluntilthenightwarnedusofitsterrors，andwecreptawaytoourholesintherocks，callingsoftlytooneanother，whilethestarscameoutanddarknesssettleddown。
Wewereafraidonlyofthedark。Wehadnogermsofreligion，noconceptionsofanunseenworld。Weknewonlytherealworld，andthethingswefearedweretherealthings，theconcretedangers，theflesh-and-bloodanimalsthatpreyed。Itwastheythatmadeusafraidofthedark，fordarknesswasthetimeofthehuntinganimals。Itwasthenthattheycameoutoftheirlairsandpouncedupononefromthedarkwhereintheylurkedinvisible。
Possiblyitwasoutofthisfearoftherealdenizensofthedarkthatthefearoftheunrealdenizenswaslatertodevelopandtoculminateinawholeandmightyunseenworld。AsimaginationgrewitislikelythatthefearofdeathincreaseduntiltheFolkthatweretocomeprojectedthisfearintothedarkandpeopleditwithspirits。IthinktheFirePeoplehadalreadybeguntobeafraidofthedarkinthisfashion;butthereasonsweFolkhadforbreakingupourhee-heecouncilsandfleeingtoourholeswereoldSaber-Tooth，thelionsandthejackals，thewilddogsandthewolves，andallthehungry，meat-eatingbreeds。