Chapter IV

           Thereisonepuzzlingthingabouttheseprehistoricmemoriesofmine.Itisthevaguenessofthetimeelement.Ilonotalwaysknowtheorderofevents;—orcanItell,betweensomeevents,whetherone,two,orfourorfiveyearshaveelapsed.Icanonlyroughlytellthepassageoftimebyjudgingthechangesintheappearanceandpursuitsofmyfellows.

           Also,Icanapplythelogicofeventstothevarioushappenings.Forinstance,thereisnodoubtwhateverthatmymotherandIweretreedbythewildpigsandfledandfellinthedaysbeforeImadetheacquaintanceofLop-Ear,whobecamewhatImaycallmyboyhoodchum.AnditisjustasconclusivethatbetweenthesetwoperiodsImusthaveleftmymother.

           IhavenomemoryofmyfatherthantheoneIhavegiven.Never,intheyearsthatfollowed,didhereappear.Andfrommyknowledgeofthetimes,theonlyexplanationpossibleliesinthatheperishedshortlyaftertheadventurewiththewildpigs.Thatitmusthavebeenanuntimelyend,thereisnodiscussion.Hewasinfullvigor,andonlysuddenandviolentdeathcouldhavetakenhimoff.ButIknownotthemannerofhisgoing—whetherhewasdrownedintheriver,orwasswallowedbyasnake,orwentintothestomachofoldSaber-Tooth,thetiger,isbeyondmyknowledge.

           ForknowthatIrememberonlythethingsIsawmyself,withmyowneyes,inthoseprehistoricdays.Ifmymotherknewmyfather’send,shenevertoldme.ForthatmatterIdoubtifshehadavocabularyadequatetoconveysuchinformation.Perhaps,alltold,theFolkinthatdayhadavocabularyofthirtyorfortysounds.