Chapter VII

           Broken-Toothwasanotheryoungsterwholivedbyhimself.Hismotherlivedinthecaves,buttwomorechildrenhadcomeafterhimandhehadbeenthrustouttoshiftforhimself.Wehadwitnessedtheperformanceduringtheseveralprecedingdays,andithadgivenusnolittleglee.Broken-Toothdidnotwanttogo,andeverytimehismotherleftthecavehesneakedbackintoit.Whenshereturnedandfoundhimthereherragesweredelightful.Halfthehordemadeapracticeofwatchingforthesemoments.First,fromwithinthecave,wouldcomeherscoldingandshrieking.ThenwecouldhearsoundsofthethrashingandtheyellingofBroken-Tooth.Aboutthistimethetwoyoungerchildrenjoinedin.Andfinally,liketheeruptionofaminiaturevolcano,Broken-Toothwouldcomeflyingout.

           Attheendofseveraldayshisleavinghomewasaccomplished.Hewailedhisgrief,unheeded,fromthecentreoftheopenspace,foratleasthalfanhour,andthencametolivewithLop-Earandme.Ourcavewassmall,butwithsqueezingtherewasroomforthree.IhavenorecollectionofBroken-Toothspendingmorethanonenightwithus,sotheaccidentmusthavehappenedrightaway.

           Itcameinthemiddleoftheday.Inthemorningwehadeatenourfillofthecarrots,andthen,madeheedlessbyplay,wehadventuredontothebigtreesjustbeyond.IcannotunderstandhowLop-Eargotoverhishabitualcaution,butitmusthavebeentheplay.Wewerehavingagreattimeplayingtreetag.Andsuchtag!Weleapedtenorfifteen-footgapsasamatterofcourse.