До Адама
Chapter XVII
SeveraloftheFire-Menreturnedtodragthemintosafety,butourrocksdrovetherescuersback.
TheFirePeoplebecameenraged.Also,theybecamecautious.Inspiteoftheirangryyells,theykeptatadistanceandsentflightsofarrowsagainstus.Thisputanendtotherock-throwing.Bythetimehalfadozenofushadbeenkilledandascoreinjured,therestofusretreatedinsideourcaves.Iwasnotoutofrangeinmyloftycave,butthedistancewasgreatenoughtospoileffectiveshooting,andtheFirePeopledidnotwastemanyarrowsonme.Furthermore,Iwascurious.Iwantedtosee.WhiletheSwiftOneremainedwellinsidethecave,tremblingwithfearandmakinglowwailingsoundsbecauseIwouldnotcomein,Icrouchedattheentranceandwatched.
Thefightinghadnowbecomeintermittent.Itwasasortofdeadlock.Wewereinthecaves,andthequestionwiththeFirePeoplewashowtogetusout.Theydidnotdarecomeinafterus,andingeneralwewouldnotexposeourselvestotheirarrows.Occasionally,whenoneofthemdrewinclosetothebaseofthecliff,oneoranotheroftheFolkwouldsmasharockdown.Inreturn,hewouldbetransfixedbyhalfadozenarrows.Thisruseworkedwellforsometime,butfinallytheFolknolongerwereinveigledintoshowingthemselves.Thedeadlockwascomplete.
BehindtheFirePeopleIcouldseethelittlewizenedoldhunterdirectingitall.Theyobeyedhim,andwenthereandthereathiscommands.Someofthemwentintotheforestandreturnedwithloadsofdrywood,leaves,andgrass.AlltheFirePeopledrewincloser.