До Адама

           Therewerewilddogsandahyena,andforatimetherewasagreatyelpingandsnarlingthatawakenedontheinstantthewholecircleofsleepingFire-Men.

           Oncealionandalionessstoodbeneathourtreeandgazedoutwithbristlinghairandblinkingeyes.Thelionlickedhischopsandwasnervouswitheagerness,asifhewantedtogoforwardandmakeameal.Butthelionesswasmorecautious.Itwasshethatdiscoveredus,andthepairstoodandlookedupatus,silently,withtwitching,scentingnostrils.Thentheygrowled,lookedonceagainatthefire,andturnedawayintotheforest.

           ForamuchlongertimeLop-EarandIremainedandwatched.Nowandagainwecouldhearthecrashingofheavybodiesinthethicketsandunderbrush,andfromthedarknessoftheotherside,acrossthecircle,wecouldseeeyesgleaminginthefirelight.Inthedistanceweheardalionroar,andfromfaroffcamethescreamofsomestrickenanimal,splashingandflounderinginadrinking-place.Also,fromtheriver,cameagreatgruntingofrhinoceroses.

           Inthemorning,afterhavinghadoursleep,wecreptbacktothefire.Itwasstillsmouldering,andtheFire-Menweregone.Wemadeacirclethroughtheforesttomakesure,andthenwerantothefire.Iwantedtoseewhatitwaslike,andbetweenthumbandfingerIpickedupaglowingcoal.Mycryofpainandfear,asIdroppedit,stampededLop-Earintothetrees,andhisflightfrightenedmeafterhim.

           Thenexttimewecamebackmorecautiously,andweavoidedtheglowingcoals.WefelltoimitatingtheFire-Men.