Chapter XIV

           Themonthscameandwent.Thedramaandtragedyofthefuturewereyettocomeuponthestage,andinthemeantimewepoundednutsandlived.It—vasagoodyear,Iremember,fornuts.Weusedtofillgourdswithnutsandcarrythemtothepounding-places.Weplacedthemindepressionsintherock,and,withapieceofrockinourhands,wecrackedthemandatethemaswecracked.

           ItwasthefalloftheyearwhenLop-EarandIreturnedfromourlongadventure-journey,andthewinterthatfollowedwasmild.Imadefrequenttripstotheneighborhoodofmyoldhome-tree,andfrequentlyIsearchedthewholeterritorythatlaybetweentheblueberryswampandthemouthofthesloughwhereLop-EarandIhadlearnednavigation,butnoclewcouldIgetoftheSwiftOne.Shehaddisappeared.AndIwantedher.IwasimpelledbythathungerwhichIhavementioned,andwhichwasakintophysicalhunger,albeititcameoftenuponmewhenmystomachwasfull.Butallmysearchwasvain.

           Lifewasnotmonotonousatthecaves,however.TherewasRed-Eyetobeconsidered.Lop-EarandIneverknewamoment’speaceexceptwhenwewereinourownlittlecave.Inspiteoftheenlargementoftheentrancewehadmade,itwasstillatightsqueezeforustogetin.Andthoughfromtimetotimewecontinuedtoenlarge,itwasstilltoosmallforRed-Eye’smonstrousbody.Butheneverstormedourcaveagain.Hehadlearnedthelessonwell,andhecarriedonhisneckabulginglumptoshowwhereIhadhithimwiththerock.Thislumpneverwentaway,anditwasprominentenoughtobeseenatadistance.