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animals。 It was then that they came out of their lairs
and pounced upon one from the dark wherein they lurked
invisible。
Possibly it was out of this fear of the real denizens
of the dark that the fear of the unreal denizens was
later to develop and to culminate in a whole and mighty
unseen world。 As imagination grew it is likely that
the fear of death increased until the Folk that were to
come projected this fear into the dark and peopled it
with spirits。 I think the Fire People had already
begun to be afraid of the dark in this fashion； but the
reasons we Folk had for breaking up our hee…hee
councils and fleeing to our holes were old Saber…Tooth；
the lions and the jackals； the wild dogs and the
wolves； and all the hungry； meat…eating breeds。
CHAPTER XV
Lop…Ear got married。 It was the second winter after
our adventure…journey； and it was most unexpected。 He
gave me no warning。 The first I knew was one twilight
when I climbed the cliff to our cave。 I squeezed into
the entrance and there I stopped。 There was no room
for me。 Lop…Ear and his mate were in possession； and
she was none other than my sister； the daughter of my
step…father； the Chatterer。
I tried to force my way in。 There was space only for
two； and that space was already occupied。 Also； they
had me at a disadvantage； and； what of the scratching
and hair…pulling I received； I was glad to retreat。 I
slept that night； and for many nights； in the
connecting passage of the double…cave。 From my
experience it seemed reasonably safe。 As the two Folk
had dodged old Saber…Tooth； and as I had dodged
Red…Eye； so it seemed to me that I could dodge the
hunting animals by going back and forth between the two
caves。
I had forgotten the wild dogs。 They were small enough
to go through any passage that I could squeeze through。
One night they nosed me out。 Had they entered both
caves at the same time they would have got me。 As it
was； followed by some of them through the passage； I
dashed out the mouth of the other cave。 Outside were
the rest of the wild dogs。 They sprang for me as I
sprang for the cliff…wall and began to climb。 One of
them； a lean and hungry brute； caught me in mid…leap。
His teeth sank into my thigh…muscles； and he nearly
dragged me back。 He held on； but I made no effort to
dislodge him； devoting my whole effort to climbing out
of reach of the rest of the brutes。
Not until I was safe from them did I turn my attention
to that live agony on my thigh。 And then； a dozen feet
above the snapping pack that leaped and scrambled
against the wall and fell back； I got the dog by the
throat and slowly throttled him。 I was a long time
doing it。 He clawed and ripped my hair and hide with
his hind…paws； and ever he jerked and lunged with his
weight to drag me from the wall。
At last his teeth opened and released my torn flesh。 I
carried his body up the cliff with me； and perched out
the night in the entrance of my old cave； wherein were
Lop…Ear and my sister。 But first I had to endure a
storm of abuse from the aroused horde for being the
cause of the disturbance。 I had my revenge。 From time
to time； as the noise of the pack below eased down； I
dropped a rock and started it up again。 Whereupon；
from all around； the abuse of the exasperated Folk
began afresh。 In the morning I shared the dog with
Lop…Ear and his wife； and for several days the three of
us were neither vegetarians nor fruitarians。
Lop…Ear's marriage was not a happy one； and the
consolation about it is that it did not last very long。
Neither he nor I was happy during that period。 I was
lonely。 I suffered the inconvenience of being cast out
of my safe little cave； and somehow I did not make it
up with any other of the young males。 I suppose my
long…continued chumming with Lop…Ear had become a
habit。
I might have married； it is true； and most likely I
should have married had it not been for the dearth of
females in the horde。 This dearth； it is fair to
assume； was caused by the exorbitance of Red…Eye； and
it illustrates the menace he was to the existence of
the horde。 Then there was the Swift One； whom I had
not forgotten。
At any rate； during the period of Lop…Ear's marriage I
knocked about from pillar to post； in danger every
night that I slept； and never comfortable。 One of the
Folk died； and his widow was taken into the cave of
another one of the Folk。 I took possession of the
abandoned cave； but it was wide…mouthed； and after
Red…Eye nearly trapped me in it one day； I returned to
sleeping in the passage of the double…cave。 During the
summer； however； I used to stay away from the caves for
weeks； sleeping in a tree…shelter I made near the mouth
of the slough。
I have said that Lop…Ear was not happy。 My sister was
the daughter of the Chatterer； and she made Lop…Ear's
life miserable for him。 In no other cave was there so
much squabbling and bickering。 If Red…Eye was a
Bluebeard； Lop…Ear was hen…pecked； and I imagine that
Red…Eye was too shrewd ever to covet Lop…Ear's wife。
Fortunately for Lop…Ear； she died。 An unusual thing
happened that summer。 Late； almost at the end of it； a
second crop of the stringy…rooted carrots sprang up。
These unexpected second…crop roots were young and juicy
and tender； and for some time the carrot…patch was the
favorite feeding…place of the horde。 One morning；
early； several score of us were there making our
breakfast。 On one side of me was the Hairless One。
Beyond him were his father and son； old Marrow…Bone and
Long…Lip。 On the other side of me were my sister and
Lop…Ear； she being next to me。
There was no warning。 On the sudden； both the Hairless
One and my sister sprang and screamed。 At the same
instant I heard the thud of the arrows that transfixed
them。 The next instant they were down on the ground；
floundering and gasping； and the rest of us were
stampeding for the trees。 An arrow drove past me and
entered the ground； its feathered shaft vibrating and
oscillating from the impact of its arrested flight。 I
remember clearly how I swerved as I ran； to go past it；
and that I gave it a needlessly wide berth。 I must
have shied at it as a horse shies at an object it
fears。
Lop…Ear took a smashing fall as he ran beside me。 An
arrow had driven through the calf of his leg and
tripped him。 He tried to run； but was tripped and
thrown by it a second time。 He sat up； crouching；
trembling with fear； and called to me pleadingly。 I
dashed back。 He showed me the arrow。 I caught hold of
it to pull it out； but the consequent hurt made him
seize my hand and stop me。 A flying arrow passed
between us。 Another struck a rock； splintered； and
fell to the ground。 This was too much。 I pulled；
suddenly； with all my might。 Lop…Ear screamed as the
arrow came out； and struck at me angrily。 But the next