Chapter XI

           ItmustberememberedthatthedescriptionIhavejustgivenoftheSwiftOneisnotthedescriptionthatwouldhavebeengivenbyBig-Tooth,myotherselfofmydreams,myprehistoricancestor.ItisbythemediumofmydreamsthatI,themodernman,lookthroughtheeyesofBig-Toothandsee.

           AndsoitiswithmuchthatInarrateoftheeventsofthatfar-offtime.Thereisadualityaboutmyimpressionsthatistooconfusingtoinflictuponmyreaders.Ishallmerelypausehereinmynarrativetoindicatethisduality,thisperplexingmixingofpersonality.ItisI,themodern,wholookbackacrossthecenturiesandweighandanalyzetheemotionsandmotivesofBig-Tooth,myotherself.Hedidnotbothertoweighandanalyze.Hewassimplicityitself.Hejustlivedevents,withouteverponderingwhyhelivedtheminhisparticularandoftenerraticway.

           AsI,myrealself,grewolder,Ienteredmoreandmoreintothesubstanceofmydreams.Onemaydream,andeveninthemidstofthedreambeawarethatheisdreaming,andifthedreambebad,comforthimselfwiththethoughtthatitisonlyadream.Thisisacommonexperiencewithallofus.AndsoitwasthatI,themodern,oftenenteredintomydreaming,andintheconsequentstrangedualpersonalitywasbothactorandspectator.AndrightoftenhaveI,themodern,beenperturbedandvexedbythefoolishness,illogic,obtuseness,andgeneralall-roundstupendousstupidityofmyself,theprimitive.

           Andonethingmore,beforeIendthisdigression.Haveyoueverdreamedthatyoudreamed?Dogsdream,horsesdream,allanimalsdream.