До Адама

           AndvividlydoIretainthepictureofhimashestoodontheedgeoftheforestwhitherhehadfinallyretreated.Hewaslookingbackatus,hiswrithinglipsliftedclearoftheveryrootsofhishugefangs,hishairbristlingandhistaillashing.Hegaveonelastsnarlandslidfromviewamongthetrees.

           Andthensuchachatteringaswentup.Weswarmedoutofourholes,examiningthemarkshisclawshadmadeonthecrumblingrockofthebluff,allofustalkingatonce.OneofthetwoFolkwhohadbeencaughtinthedoublecavewaspart-grown,halfchildandhalfyouth.Theyhadcomeoutproudlyfromtheirrefuge,andwesurroundedtheminanadmiringcrowd.Thentheyoungfellow’smotherbrokethroughandfelluponhiminatremendousrage,boxinghisears,pullinghishair,andshriekinglikeademon.Shewasastrappingbigwoman,veryhairy,andthethrashingshegavehimwasadelighttothehorde.Weroaredwithlaughter,holdingontooneanotherorrollingonthegroundinourglee.

           Inspiteofthereignoffearunderwhichwelived,theFolkwerealwaysgreatlaughers.Wehadthesenseofhumor.OurmerrimentwasGargantuan.Itwasneverrestrained.Therewasnothinghalfwayaboutit.Whenathingwasfunnywewereconvulsedwithappreciationofit,andthesimplest,crudestthingswerefunnytous.Oh,weweregreatlaughers,Icantellyou.

           ThewaywehadtreatedSaber-Toothwasthewaywetreatedallanimalsthatinvadedthevillage.Wekeptourrun-waysanddrinking-placestoourselvesbymakinglifemiserablefortheanimalsthattrespassedorstrayeduponourimmediateterritory.