До Адама

           Andthesepuppiesthatmadesucharacketbelongedtothewilddogs.Wellweknewthem,runninginpacks,theterrorofthegrass-eatinganimals.Wehadwatchedthemfollowingtheherdsofcattleandbisonanddraggingdownthecalves,theaged,andthesick.Wehadbeenchasedbythemourselves,morethanonce.IhadseenoneoftheFolk,awoman,rundownbythemandcaughtjustasshereachedtheshelterofthewoods.Hadshenotbeentiredoutbytherun,shemighthavemadeitintoatree.Shetried,andslipped,andfellback.Theymadeshortworkofher.

           Wedidnotstareateachotherlongerthanamoment.Keepingtightholdofourprizes,weranforthewoods.Onceinthesecurityofatalltree,weheldupthepuppiesandlaughedagain.Yousee,wehadtohaveourlaughout,nomatterwhathappened.

           AndthenbeganoneofthehardesttasksIeverattempted.Westartedtocarrythepuppiestoourcave.Insteadofusingourhandsforclimbing,mostofthetimetheywereoccupiedwithholdingoursquirmingcaptives.Oncewetriedtowalkontheground,butweretreedbyamiserablehyena,whofollowedalongunderneath.Hewasawisehyena.

           Lop-Eargotanidea.Herememberedhowwetiedupbundlesofleavestocarryhomeforbeds.Breakingoffsometoughvines,hetiedhispuppy’slegstogether,andthen,withanotherpieceofvinepassedaroundhisneck,slungthepuppyonhisback.Thislefthimwithhandsandfeetfreetoclimb.Hewasjubilant,anddidnotwaitformetofinishtyingmypuppy’slegs,butstartedon.Therewasonedifficulty,however.Thepuppywouldn’tstayslungonLop-Ear’sback.