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later from hunger。
Itwas a desolate land of rocks and foaming streams
and clattering cataracts。 We climbed and descended
mighty canyons and gorges； and ever； from every view
point； there spread out before us； in all directions；
range upon range； the unceasing mountains。 We slept at
night in holes and crevices； and on one cold night we
perched on top a slender pinnacle of rock that was
almost like a tree。
And then； at last； one hot midday； dizzy with hunger；
we gained the divide。 From this high backbone of
earth； to the north； across the diminishing；
down…falling ranges； we caught a glimpse of a far lake。
The sun shone upon it； and about it were open； level
grass…lands； while to the eastward we saw the dark line
of a wide…stretching forest。
We were two days in gaining the lake； and we were weak
with hunger； but on its shore； sleeping snugly in a
thicket； we found a part…grown calf。 It gave us much
trouble； for we knew no other way to kill than with our
hands。 When we had gorged our fill； we carried the
remainder of the meat to the eastward forest and hid it
in a tree。 We never returned to that tree； for the
shore of the stream that drained Far Lake was packed
thick with salmon that had come up from the sea to
spawn。
Westward from the lake stretched the grass…lands； and
here were multitudes of bison and wild cattle。 Also
were there many packs of wild dogs； and as there were
no trees it was not a safe place for us。 We followed
north along the stream for days。 Then； and for what
reason I do not know； we abruptly left the stream and
swung to the east； and then to the southeast； through a
great forest。 I shall not bore you with our journey。
I but indicate it to show how we finally arrived at the
Fire People's country。
We came out upon the river； but we did not know it for
our river。 We had been lost so long that we had come to
accept the condition of being lost as habitual。 As I
look back I see clearly how our lives and destinies are
shaped by the merest chance。 We did not know it was
our riverthere was no way of telling； and if we had
never crossed it we would most probably have never
returned to the horde； and I； the modern； the thousand
centuries yet to be born； would never have been born 。
And yet Lop…Ear and I wanted greatly to return。 We had
experienced homesickness on our journey； the yearning
for our own kind and land； and often had I had
recollections of the Swift One； the young female who
made soft sounds； whom it was good to be with； and who
lived by herself nobody knew where。 My recollections
of her were accompanied by sensations of hunger； and
these I felt when I was not hungry and when I had just
eaten。
But to come back to the river。 Food was plentiful；
principally berries and succulent roots； and on the
river bank we played and lingered for days。 And then
the idea came to Lop…Ear。 It was a visible process；
the coming of the idea。 I saw it。 The expression in
his eyes became plaintive and querulous； and he was
greatly perturbed。 Then his eyes went muddy； as if he
had lost his grip on the inchoate thought。 This was
followed by the plaintive； querulous expression as the
idea persisted and he clutched it anew。 He looked at
me； and at the river and the far shore。 He tried to
speak； but had no sounds with which to express the
idea。 The result was a gibberish that made me laugh。
This angered him； and he grabbed me suddenly and threw
me on my back。 Of course we fought； and in the end I
chased him up a tree； where he secured a long branch
and poked me every time I tried to get at him。
And the idea had gone glimmering。 I did not know； and
he had forgotten。 But the next morning it awoke in him
again。 Perhaps it was the homing instinct in him
asserting itself that made the idea persist。 At any
rate it was there； and clearer than before。 He led me
down to the water； where a log had grounded in an eddy。
I thought he was minded to play； as we had played in
the mouth of the slough。 Nor did I change my mind as I
watched him tow up a second log from farther down the
shore。
It was not until we were on the logs； side by side and
holding them together； and had paddled out into the
current； that I learned his intention。 He paused to
point at the far shore； and resumed his paddling； at
the same time uttering loud and encouraging cries。 I
understood； and we paddled energetically。 The swift
current caught us； flung us toward the south shore； but
before we could make a landing flung us back toward the
north shore。
Here arose dissension。 Seeing the north shore so near；
I began to paddle for it。 Lop…Ear tried to paddle for
the south shore。 The logs swung around in circles； and
we got nowhere； and all the time the forest was
flashing past as we drifted down the stream。 We could
not fight。 We knew better than to let go the grips of
hands and feet that held the logs together。 But we
chattered and abused each other with our tongues until
the current flung us toward the south bank again。 That
was now the nearest goal； and together and amicably we
paddled for it。 We landed in an eddy； and climbed
directly into the trees to reconnoitre。
CHAPTER XIII
It was not until the night of our first day on the
south bank of the river that we discovered the Fire
People。 What must have been a band of wandering
hunters went into camp not far from the tree in which
Lop…Ear and I had elected to roost for the night。 The
voices of the Fire People at first alarmed us； but
later； when darkness had come； we were attracted by the
fire。 We crept cautiously and silently from tree to
tree till we got a good view of the scene。
In an open space among the trees； near to the river；
the fire was burning。 About it were half a dozen
Fire…Men。 Lop…Ear clutched me suddenly； and I could
feel him tremble。 I looked more closely； and saw the
wizened little old hunter who had shot Broken…Tooth out
of the tree years before。 When he got up and walked
about； throwing fresh wood upon the fire； I saw that he
limped with his crippled leg。 Whatever it was； it was
a permanent injury。 He seemed more dried up and
wizened than ever； and the hair on his face was quite
gray。
The other hunters were young men。 I noted； lying near
them on the ground； their bows and arrows； and I knew
the weapons for what they were。 The Fire…Men wore
animal skins around their waists and across their
shoulders。 Their arms and legs； however； were bare；
and they wore no footgear。 As I have said before； they
were not quite so hairy as we of the Folk。 They did
not have large heads； and between them and the Folk
there was very little difference in the degree of the
slant of the head back from the eyes。
They were less stooped than we； less springy in their
movements。 Their backbones and hips and knee…joints
seemed