До Адама

           WellforherthatshewastheSwiftOne,thatshehadthatamazingaptitudeforswiftflightthroughthetrees.SheneededallherwisdomanddaringinordertokeepoutoftheclutchesofRed-Eye.Icouldnothelpher.Hewassopowerfulamonsterthathecouldhavetornmelimbfromlimb.Asitwas,tomydeathIcarriedaninjuredshoulderthatachedandwentlameinrainyweatherandthatwasamarkofhishandiwork.

           TheSwiftOnewassickatthetimeIreceivedthisinjury.Itmusthavebeenatouchofthemalariafromwhichwesometimessuffered;butwhateveritwas,itmadeherdullandheavy.Shedidnothavetheaccustomedspringtohermuscles,andwasindeedinpoorshapeforflightwhenRed-Eyecorneredhernearthelairofthewilddogs,severalmilessouthfromthecaves.Usually,shewouldhavecircledaroundhim,beatenhiminthestraight-away,andgainedtheprotectionofoursmall-mouthedcave.Butshecouldnotcirclehim.Shewastoodullandslow.Eachtimeheheadedheroff,untilshegaveovertheattemptanddevotedherenergieswhollytokeepingoutofhisclutches.

           Hadshenotbeensickitwouldhavebeenchild’splayforhertoeludehim;butasitwas,itrequiredallhercautionandcunning.Itwastoheradvantagethatshecouldtravelonthinnerbranchesthanhe,andmakewiderleaps.Also,shewasanunerringjudgeofdistance,andshehadaninstinctforknowingthestrengthoftwigs,branches,androttenlimbs.

           Itwasaninterminablechase.Roundandroundandbackandforthforlongstretchesthroughtheforesttheydashed.TherewasgreatexcitementamongtheotherFolk.