До Адама

           Inthedirectionfromwhichtheyhadcomeweheardthecriesandyellsofthehunters,andthescreechingofsomeoneoftheFolk.TheFirePeoplehadfoundtheirwayacrosstheswamp.

           TheSwiftOne,Lop-Ear,andIfollowedontheheelsofHair-Faceandhiswife.Whenwecametotheedgeofthegreatswamp,westopped.Wedidnotknowitspaths.Itwasoutsideourterritory,andithadbeenalwaysavoidedbytheFolk.Nonehadevergoneintoit—atleast,toreturn.Inourmindsitrepresentedmysteryandfear,theterribleunknown.AsIsay,westoppedattheedgeofit.Wewereafraid.ThecriesoftheFire-Menweredrawingnearer.Welookedatoneanother.Hair-Faceranoutonthequakingmorassandgainedthefirmerfootingofagrass-hummockadozenyardsaway.Hiswifedidnotfollow.Shetriedto,butshrankbackfromthetreacheroussurfaceandcowereddown.

           TheSwiftOnedidnotwaitforme,nordidshepausetillshehadpassedbeyondHair-Faceahundredyardsandgainedamuchlargerhummock.BythetimeLop-EarandIhadcaughtupwithher,theFire-Menappearedamongthetrees.Hair-Face’swife,drivenbythemintopanicterror,dashedafterus.Butsheranblindly,withoutcaution,andbrokethroughthecrust.Weturnedandwatched,andsawthemshootherwitharrowsasshesankdowninthemud.Thearrowsbeganfallingaboutus.Hair-Facehadnowjoinedus,andthefourofusplungedon,weknewnotwhither,deeperanddeeperintotheswamp.