До Адама

           Hemusthaveplannedthewholething,forIheardhimreturningalonethroughtheforest,roaringwithself-inducedrageashecame.Likeallthemenofourhorde,whentheywereangryorweretryingtomakethemselvesangry,hestoppednowandagaintohammeronhischestwithhisfist.

           Irealizedthehelplessnessofmysituation,andcrouchedtremblinginthenest.TheChatterercamedirectlytothetree—Irememberitwasanoaktree—andbegantoclimbup.Andheneverceasedforamomentfromhisinfernalrow.AsIhavesaid,ourlanguagewasextremelymeagre,andhemusthavestraineditbythevarietyofwaysinwhichheinformedmeofhisundyinghatredofmeandofhisintentionthereandthentohaveitoutwithme.

           Asheclimbedtothefork,Ifledoutthegreathorizontallimb.Hefollowedme,andoutIwent,fartherandfarther.AtlastIwasoutamongstthesmalltwigsandleaves.TheChattererwaseveracoward,andgreateralwaysthananyangerheeverworkedupwashiscaution.Hewasafraidtofollowmeoutamongsttheleavesandtwigs.Forthatmatter,hisgreaterweightwouldhavecrashedhimthroughthefoliagebeforehecouldhavegottome.

           Butitwasnotnecessaryforhimtoreachme,andwellheknewit,thescoundrel!Withamalevolentexpressiononhisface,hisbeadyeyesgleamingwithcruelintelligence,hebeganteetering.Teetering!—andwithmeoutontheveryedgeofthebough,clutchingatthetwigsthatbrokecontinuallywithmyweight.Twentyfeetbeneathmewastheearth.

           Wildlyandmore—wildlyheteetered,grinningatmehisgloatinghatred.Thencametheend.