До Адама
Chapter XVI
Iremember,nextmorning,thatwecameupontworuffledcock-birdsthatfoughtsoardentlythatIwentrightuptothemandcaughtthembytheirnecks.ThusdidtheSwiftOneandIgetourweddingbreakfast.Theyweredelicious.Itwaseasytocatchbirdsinthespringoftheyear.Therewasonenightthatyearwhentwoelkfoughtinthemoonlight,whiletheSwiftOneandIwatchedfromthetrees;andwesawalionandlionesscrawluptothemunheeded,andkillthemastheyfought.
ThereisnotellinghowlongwemighthavelivedintheSwiftOne’stree-shelter.Butoneday,whilewewereaway,thetreewasstruckbylightning.Greatlimbswereriven,andthenestwasdemolished.Istartedtorebuild,buttheSwiftOnewouldhavenothingtodowithit.AsIwastolearn,shewasgreatlyafraidoflightning,andIcouldnotpersuadeherbackintothetree.Soitcameabout,ourhoneymoonover,thatwewenttothecavestolive.AsLop-Earhadevictedmefromthecavewhenhegotmarried,Inowevictedhim;andtheSwiftOneandIsettleddowninit,whilehesleptatnightintheconnectingpassageofthedoublecave.
Andwithourcomingtolivewiththehordecametrouble.Red-EyehadhadIdon’tknowhowmanywivessincetheSingingOne.Shehadgonethewayoftherest.Atpresenthehadalittle,soft,spiritlessthingthatwhimperedandweptallthetime,whetherhebeatherornot;andherpassingwasaquestionofverylittletime.Beforeshepassed,even,Red-EyesethiseyesontheSwiftOne;andwhenshepassed,thepersecutionoftheSwiftOnebegan.
