До Адама
Chapter V
Andwhilehedidthis,takingnonoticeofme,theFolkcrowdedatthecave-mouthsandwatched.
Atlastheevidentlydecidedthattherewasnodangerlurkingabout.Hewasreturningfromtheheadoftherun-way,fromwherehehadtakenapeepdownatthedrinking-place.Hiscoursebroughthimnear,butstillhedidnotnoticeme.Heproceededcasuallyonhiswayuntilabreastofme,andthen,withoutwarningandwithincredibleswiftness,hesmotemeabuffetonthehead.IwasknockedbackwardfullyadozenfeetbeforeIfetchedupagainsttheground,andIremember,half-stunned,evenastheblowwasstruck,hearingthewilduproarofcluckingandshriekinglaughterthatarosefromthecaves.Itwasagreatjoke—atleastinthatday;andrightheartilytheFolkappreciatedit.
ThuswasIreceivedintothehorde.Red-Eyepaidnofurtherattentiontome,andIwasatlibertytowhimperandsobtomyheart’scontent.Severalofthewomengatheredcuriouslyaboutme,andIrecognizedthem.Ihadencounteredthemtheprecedingyearwhenmymotherhadtakenmetothehazelnutcanyons.
Buttheyquicklyleftmealone,beingreplacedbyadozencuriousandteasingyoungsters.Theyformedacirclearoundme,pointingtheirfingers,makingfaces,andpokingandpinchingme.Iwasfrightened,andforatimeIenduredthem,thenangergotthebestofmeandIsprangtoothandnailuponthemostaudaciousoneofthem—noneotherthanLop-Earhimself.Ihavesonamedhimbecausehecouldprickuponlyoneofhisears.Theotherearalwayshunglimpandwithoutmovement.
