До Адама

           Butthechangeindietcausedusstomachtroubles,andnoneofuseverwaxedfat.Wewereallleananddyspeptic-looking.ItwasingettingthebigabalonesthatLop-Earwaslost.Oneofthemcloseduponhisfingersatlow-tide,andthentheflood-tidecameinanddrownedhim.Wefoundhisbodythenextday,anditwasalessontous.Notanotheroneofuswasevercaughtintheclosingshellofanabalone.

           TheSwiftOneandImanagedtobringuponechild,aboy—atleastwemanagedtobringhimalongforseveralyears.ButIamquiteconfidenthecouldneverhavesurvivedthatterribleclimate.Andthen,oneday,theFirePeopleappearedagain.Theyhadcomedowntheriver,notonacatamaran,butinarudedug-out.Therewerethreeofthemthatpaddledinit,andoneofthemwasthelittlewizenedoldhunter.Theylandedonourbeach,andhelimpedacrossthesandandexaminedourcaves.

           Theywentawayinafewminutes,buttheSwiftOnewasbadlyscared.Wewereallfrightened,butnoneofustotheextentthatshewas.Shewhimperedandcriedandwasrestlessallthatnight.Inthemorningshetookthechildinherarms,andbysharpcries,gestures,andexample,startedmeonoursecondlongflight.TherewereeightoftheFolk(allthatwasleftofthehorde)thatremainedbehindinthecaves.Therewasnohopeforthem.Withoutdoubt,eveniftheFirePeopledidnotreturn,theymustsoonhaveperished.Itwasabadclimatedowntherebythesea.TheFolkwerenotconstitutedforthecoast-dwellinglife.

           Wetravelledsouth,fordaysskirtingthegreatswampbutneverventuringintoit.