До Адама
Chapter XI
Heragedandragedatus,andgroundhisteethinhelplessfury.Andinourfanciedsecuritywemockedandmockedhim.Wewereevershort-sighted,weFolk.
Red-Eyeabruptlyceasedhisbreast-beatingandtooth-grinding,andranacrossthetimber-jamtotheshore.Andjustasabruptlyourmerrimentgavewaytoconsternation.ItwasnotRed-Eye’swaytoforegorevengesoeasily.Wewaitedinfearandtremblingforwhateverwastohappen.Itneverstruckustopaddleaway.Hecamebackwithgreatleapsacrossthejam,onehugehandfilledwithround,water-washedpebbles.Iamgladthathewasunabletofindlargermissiles,saystonesweighingtwoorthreepounds,forwewerenomorethanascoreoffeetaway,andhesurelywouldhavekilledus.
Asitwas,wewereinnosmalldanger.Zip!Atinypebblewhirredpastwiththeforcealmostofabullet.Lop-EarandIbeganpaddlingfrantically.Whiz-zip-bang!Lop-Earscreamedwithsuddenanguish.Thepebblehadstruckhimbetweentheshoulders.ThenIgotoneandyelled.TheonlythingthatsaveduswastheexhaustingofRed-Eye’sammunition.Hedashedbacktothegravel-bedformore,whileLop-EarandIpaddledaway.
Graduallywedrewoutofrange,thoughRed-Eyecontinuedmakingtripsformoreammunitionandthepebblescontinuedtowhizaboutus.Outinthecentreofthesloughtherewasaslightcurrent,andinourexcitementwefailedtonoticethatitwasdriftingusintotheriver.Wepaddled,andRed-Eyekeptascloseashecouldtousbyfollowingalongtheshore.Thenhediscoveredlargerrocks.Suchammunitionincreasedhisrange.
