До Адама

           Icalledtohim—mostplaintively,Iremember;andhestoppedandlookedback.Thenhereturnedtome,climbingintotheforkandexaminingthearrow.Hetriedtopullitout,butonewaythefleshresistedthebarbedlead,andtheotherwayitresistedthefeatheredshaft.Also,ithurtgrievously,andIstoppedhim.

           Forsometimewecrouchedthere,Lop-Earnervousandanxioustobegone,perpetuallyandapprehensivelypeeringthiswayandthat,andmyselfwhimperingsoftlyandsobbing.Lop-Earwasplainlyinafunk,andyethisconductinremainingbyme,inspiteofhisfear,Itakeasaforeshadowingofthealtruismandcomradeshipthathavehelpedmakemanthemightiestoftheanimals.

           OnceagainLop-Eartriedtodragthearrowthroughtheflesh,andIangrilystoppedhim.Thenhebentdownandbegangnawingtheshaftofthearrowwithhisteeth.Ashedidsoheheldthearrowfirmlyinbothhandssothatitwouldnotplayaboutinthewound,andatthesametimeIheldontohim.Ioftenmeditateuponthisscene—thetwoofus,half-growncubs,inthechildhoodoftherace,andtheonemasteringhisfear,beatingdownhisselfishimpulseofflight,inordertostandbyandsuccortheother.Andthererisesupbeforemeallthatwasthereforeshadowed,andIseevisionsofDamonandPythias,oflife-savingcrewsandRedCrossnurses,ofmartyrsandleadersofforlornhopes,ofFatherDamien,andoftheChristhimself,andofallthemenofearth,mightyofstature,whosestrengthmaytracebacktotheelementalloinsofLop-EarandBig-ToothandotherdimdenizensoftheYoungerWorld