До Адама

           Theywerenotquickenough.Red-Eye’sflyingbodylandedinthemidstofthem.

           Hewasinafrightfulrage,smashingaboutwithhislongarmsrightandleft.Hepulledthefaceoffoneofthem,literallypulleditoffwiththosegnarlyfingersofhisandthosetremendousmuscles.Hebitanotherthroughtheneck.TheFire-Menfellbackwithwildfierceyells,thenrusheduponhim.Hemanagedtogetholdofaclubandbegancrushingheadslikeeggshells.Hewastoomuchforthem,andtheywerecompelledtofallbackagain.Thiswashischance,andheturnedhisbackuponthemandranforit,stillhowlingwrathfully.Afewarrowsspedafterhim,butheplungedintoathicketandwasgone.

           TheSwiftOneandIcreptquietlyaway,onlytorunfoulofanotherpartyofFire-Men.Theychasedusintotheblueberryswamp,butweknewthetree-pathsacrossthefarthermorasseswheretheycouldnotfollowontheground,andsoweescaped.Wecameoutontheothersideintoanarrowstripofforestthatseparatedtheblueberryswampfromthegreatswampthatextendedwestward.HerewemetLop-Ear.HowhehadescapedIcannotimagine,unlesshehadnotslepttheprecedingnightatthecaves.

           Here,inthestripofforest,wemighthavebuilttree-sheltersandsettleddown;buttheFirePeoplewereperformingtheirworkofexterminationthoroughly.Intheafternoon,Hair-Faceandhiswifefledoutfromamongthetreestotheeast,passedus,andweregone.Theyfledsilentlyandswiftly,withalarmintheirfaces