До Адама
Chapter XVI
AndIdidn’tcarewhetherIdidornot.IwasinsuchmoodthatIwouldhavefacedoldSaber-Toothhimself,orascoreofarrow-shootingFirePeople.Suchwasthemadnessoflove...withme.WiththeSwiftOneitwasdifferent.Shewasverywise.Shedidnottakeanyrealrisks,andIremember,onlookingbackacrossthecenturiestothatwildlove-chase,thatwhenthepigsdelayedmeshedidnotrunawayveryfast,butwaited,rather,formetotakeupthepursuitagain.Also,shedirectedherretreatbeforeme,goingalwaysinthedirectionshewantedtogo.
Atlastcamethedark.Sheledmearoundthemossyshoulderofacanyonwallthatout-juttedamongthetrees.Afterthatwepenetratedadensemassofunderbrushthatscrapedandrippedmeinpassing.Butsheneverruffledahair.Sheknewtheway.Inthemidstofthethicketwasalargeoak.Iwasveryclosetoherwhensheclimbedit;andintheforks,inthenest-shelterIhadsoughtsolongandvainly,Icaughther.
Thehyenahadtakenourtrailagain,andhenowsatdownonthegroundandmadehungrynoises.Butwedidnotmind,andwelaughedathimwhenhesnarledandwentawaythroughthethicket.Itwasthespring-time,andthenightnoisesweremanyandvaried.Aswasthecustomatthattimeoftheyear,therewasmuchfightingamongtheanimals.Fromthenestwecouldhearthesquealingandneighingofwildhorses,thetrumpetingofelephants,andtheroaringoflions.Butthemooncameout,andtheairwaswarm,andwelaughedandwereunafraid.
