До Адама

           Astheirapprovalandacclamationaroseontheair,Red-Eyesnarleddownatthem,andontheinstanttheyweresubduedtosilence.Encouragedbythisevidenceofhispower,hethrusthisheadintoview,andbyscowlingandsnarlingandgnashinghisfangstriedtointimidateme.Hescowledhorribly,contractingthescalpstronglyoverthebrowsandbringingthehairdownfromthetopoftheheaduntileachhairstoodapartandpointedstraightforward.

           Thesightchilledme,butImasteredmyfear,and,withastonepoisedinmyhand,threatenedhimback.Hestilltriedtoadvance.Idrovethestonedownathimandmadeasheermiss.Thenextshotwasasuccess.Thestonestruckhimontheneck.Heslippedbackoutofsight,butashedisappearedIcouldseehimclutchingforagriponthewallwithonehand,andwiththeotherclutchingathisthroat.Thestickfellclatteringtotheground.

           Icouldnotseehimanymore,thoughIcouldhearhimchokingandstranglingandcoughing.Theaudiencekeptadeath-likesilence.Icrouchedonthelipoftheentranceandwaited.Thestranglingandcoughingdieddown,andIcouldhearhimnowandagainclearinghisthroat.Alittlelaterhebegantoclimbdown.Hewentveryquietly,pausingeverymomentorsotostretchhisneckortofeelitwithhishand.

           Atthesightofhimdescending,thewholehorde,withwildscreamsandyells,stampededforthewoods.OldMarrow-Bone,hobblingandtottering,followedbehind.Red-Eyetooknonoticeoftheflight.Whenhereachedthegroundheskirtedthebaseofthebluffandclimbedupandintohisowncave.Hedidnotlookaroundonce