До Адама
Chapter XIV
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.
