До Адама

           Atfirstitappearedtobeconnectedwhollywithdirection.Thehordefearedthenortheast.Itlivedinperpetualapprehensionofthatquarterofthecompass.Andeveryindividualgazedmorefrequentlyandwithgreateralarminthatdirectionthaninanyother.

           WhenLop-EarandIwenttowardthenorth-easttoeatthestringy-rootedcarrotsthatatthatseasonwereattheirbest,hebecameunusuallytimid.Hewascontenttoeattheleavings,thebigtoughcarrotsandthelittleropyones,ratherthantoventureashortdistancefartherontowherethecarrotswereasyetuntouched.WhenIsoventured,hescoldedmeandquarrelledwithme.Hegavemetounderstandthatinthatdirectionwassomehorribledanger,butjustwhatthehorribledangerwashispaucityoflanguagewouldnotpermithimtosay.

           ManyagoodmealIgotinthisfashion,whilehescoldedandchatteredvainlyatme.Icouldnotunderstand.Ikeptveryalert,butIcouldseenodanger.Icalculatedalwaysthedistancebetweenmyselfandthenearesttree,andknewthattothathavenofrefugeIcouldout-foottheTawnyOne,oroldSaber-Tooth,didoneortheothersuddenlyappear.

           Onelateafternoon,inthevillage,agreatuproararose.Thehordewasanimatedwithasingleemotion,thatoffear.Thebluff-sideswarmedwiththeFolk,allgazingandpointingintothenortheast.Ididnotknowwhatitwas,butIscrambledallthewayuptothesafetyofmyownhighlittlecavebeforeeverIturnedaroundtosee.

           Andthen,acrosstheriver,awayintothenortheast,Isawforthefirsttimethemysteryofsmoke.ItwasthebiggestanimalIhadeverseen