До Адама

           Thebowandarrowwaslikeanenormousextensionoftheirleapingandstrikingmuscles,sothat,virtually,theycouldleapandkillatahundredfeetandmore.ThismadethemfarmoreterriblethanSaber-Toothhimself.Andthentheywereverywise.Theyhadspeechthatenabledthemmoreeffectivelytoreason,andinadditiontheyunderstoodcooperation.

           WeFolkcametobeverycircumspectwhenwewereintheforest.Weweremorealertandvigilantandtimid.Nolongerwerethetreesaprotectiontobereliedupon.Nolongercouldweperchonabranchandlaughdownatourcarnivorousenemiesontheground.TheFirePeoplewerecarnivorous,withclawsandfangsahundredfeetlong,themostterribleofallthehuntinganimalsthatrangedtheprimevalworld.

           Onemorning,beforetheFolkhaddispersedtotheforest,therewasapanicamongthewater-carriersandthosewhohadgonedowntotherivertodrink.Thewholehordefledtothecaves.Itwasourhabit,atsuchtimes,tofleefirstandinvestigateafterward.Wewaitedinthemouthsofourcavesandwatched.AftersometimeaFire-Mansteppedcautiouslyintotheopenspace.Itwasthelittlewizenedoldhunter.Hestoodforalongtimeandwatchedus,lookingourcavesandthecliff-wallupanddown.Hedescendedoneoftherun-waystoadrinking-place,returningafewminuteslaterbyanotherrun-way.Againhestoodandwatcheduscarefully,foralongtime.Thenheturnedonhisheelandlimpedintotheforest,leavinguscallingquerulouslyandplaintivelytooneanotherfromthecave-mouths.