До Адама

           Themotherrantoit,caughtitupinherarms,andcrouchedoveritcrying.

           Red-Eyestartedovertopickupthestick.OldMarrow-Bonehadtotteredintohisway.Red-Eye’sgreathandshotoutandclutchedtheoldmanbythebackoftheneck.Ilookedtoseehisneckbroken.Hisbodywentlimpashesurrenderedhimselftohisfate.Red-Eyehesitatedamoment,andMarrow-Bone,shiveringterribly,bowedhisheadandcoveredhisfacewithhiscrossedarms.ThenRed-Eyeslammedhimface-downwardtotheground.OldMarrow-Bonedidnotstruggle.Helaytherecryingwiththefearofdeath.IsawtheHairlessOne,outintheopenspace,beatinghischestandbristling,butafraidtocomeforward.Andthen,inobediencetosomewhimofhiserraticspirit,Red-Eyelettheoldmanaloneandpassedonandrecoveredthestick.

           Hereturnedtothewallandbegantoclimbup.Lop-Ear,whowasshiveringandpeepingalongsideofme,scrambledbackintothecave.ItwasplainthatRed-Eyewasbentuponmurder.Iwasdesperateandangryandfairlycool.Runningbackandforthalongtheneighboringledges,Igatheredaheapofrocksatthecave-entrance.Red-Eyewasnowseveralyardsbeneathme,concealedforthemomentbyanout-jutofthecliff.Asheclimbed,hisheadcameintoview,andIbangedarockdown.Itmissed,strikingthewallandshattering;buttheflyingdustandgritfilledhiseyesandhedrewbackoutofview.

           Achucklingandchatteringarosefromthehorde,thatplayedthepartofaudience.AtlasttherewasoneoftheFolkwhodaredtofaceRed-Eye.