До Адама

           Someaccidenthadinjuredthemusclesanddeprivedhimoftheuseofit.

           Heclosedwithme,andwewentatitforalltheworldlikeacoupleofsmallboysfighting.Wescratchedandbit,pulledhair,clinched,andthreweachotherdown.IrememberIsucceededingettingonhimwhatinmycollegedaysIlearnedwascalledahalf-Nelson.Thisholdgavemethedecidedadvantage.ButIdidnotenjoyitlong.Hetwisteduponeleg,andwiththefoot(orhind-hand)madesosavageanonslaughtuponmyabdomenastothreatentodisembowelme.Ihadtoreleasehiminordertosavemyself,andthenwewentatitagain.

           Lop-EarwasayearolderthanI,butIwasseveraltimesangrierthanhe,andintheendhetooktohisheels.Ichasedhimacrosstheopenanddownarun-waytotheriver.Buthewasbetteracquaintedwiththelocalityandranalongtheedgeofthewaterandupanotherrun-way.Hecutdiagonallyacrosstheopenspaceanddashedintoawide-mouthedcave.

           BeforeIknewit,Ihadplungedafterhimintothedarkness.ThenextmomentIwasbadlyfrightened.Ihadneverbeeninacavebefore.Ibegantowhimperandcryout.Lop-Earchatteredmockinglyatme,and,springinguponmeunseen,tumbledmeover.Hedidnotriskasecondencounter,however,andtookhimselfoff.Iwasbetweenhimandtheentrance,andhedidnotpassme;yetheseemedtohavegoneaway.Ilistened,butcouldgetnoclewastowherehewas.Thispuzzledme,andwhenIregainedtheoutsideIsatdowntowatch.

           Henevercameoutoftheentrance,ofthatIwascertain;yetattheendofseveralminuteshechuckledatmyelbow.