До Адама
Chapter IX
Ifoundafragmentofrockandthrewitathim,strikinghimonthechest.
Thisemboldenedme,and,besides,Iwasnowasangryashe,andhadlostallfear.Irippedfragmentofrockfromthewall.Thepiecemusthaveweighedtwoorthreepounds.WithmystrengthIslammeditfullintoRed-Eye’sface.Itnearlyfinishedhim.Hestaggeredbackward,droppinghisstick,andalmostfelloffthecliff.
Hewasaferocioussight.Hisfacewascoveredwithblood,andhewassnarlingandgnashinghisfangslikeawildboar.Hewipedthebloodfromhiseyes,caughtsightofme,androaredwithfury.Hisstickwasgone,sohebeganrippingoutchunksofcrumblingrockandthrowingtheminatme.Thissuppliedmewithammunition.Igavehimasgoodashesent,andbetter;forhepresentedagoodtarget,whilehecaughtonlyglimpsesofmeasIsnuggledagainsttheside-wall.
Suddenlyhedisappearedagain.FromthelipofthecaveIsawhimdescending.Allthehordehadgatheredoutsideandinawedsilencewaslookingon.Ashedescended,themoretimidonesscurriedfortheircaves.IcouldseeoldMarrow-Bonetotteringalongasfastashecould.Red-Eyesprangoutfromthewallandfinishedthelasttwentyfeetthroughtheair.Helandedalongsideamotherwhowasjustbeginningtheascent.Shescreamedwithfear,andthetwo-year-oldchildthatwasclingingtoherreleaseditsgripandrolledatRed-Eye’sfeet.Bothheandthemotherreachedforit,andhegotit.Thenextmomentthefraillittlebodyhadwhirledthroughtheairandshatteredagainstthewall.
