До Адама

Chapter IV

           Hemusthaveplannedthewholething,forIheardhimreturningalonethroughtheforest,roaringwithself-inducedrageashecame.Likeallthemenofourhorde,whentheywereangryorweretryingtomakethemselvesangry,hestoppednowandagaintohammeronhischestwithhisfist.

           Irealizedthehelplessnessofmysituation,andcrouchedtremblinginthenest.TheChatterercamedirectlytothetree—Irememberitwasanoaktree—andbegantoclimbup.Andheneverceasedforamomentfromhisinfernalrow.AsIhavesaid,ourlanguagewasextremelymeagre,andhemusthavestraineditbythevarietyofwaysinwhichheinformedmeofhisundyinghatredofmeandofhisintentionthereandthentohaveitoutwithme.

           Asheclimbedtothefork,Ifledoutthegreathorizontallimb.Hefollowedme,andoutIwent,fartherandfarther.AtlastIwasoutamongstthesmalltwigsandleaves.TheChattererwaseveracoward,andgreateralwaysthananyangerheeverworkedupwashiscaution.Hewasafraidtofollowmeoutamongsttheleavesandtwigs.Forthatmatter,hisgreaterweightwouldhavecrashedhimthroughthefoliagebeforehecouldhavegottome.

           Butitwasnotnecessaryforhimtoreachme,andwellheknewit,thescoundrel!Withamalevolentexpressiononhisface,hisbeadyeyesgleamingwithcruelintelligence,hebeganteetering.Teetering!—andwithmeoutontheveryedgeofthebough,clutchingatthetwigsthatbrokecontinuallywithmyweight.Twentyfeetbeneathmewastheearth.

           Wildlyandmore—wildlyheteetered,grinningatmehisgloatinghatred.Thencametheend.

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