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softly。 From the ground came a snarling； and crunching
of bones。 It was Saber…Tooth making his supper off of
what had been Big…Face。 From beyond； with inflamed
rims and eyes； Red…Eye peered down。 Here was a monster
mightier than he。 The Swift One and I turned and went
away quietly through the trees toward the cave； while
the Folk gathered overhead and showered down abuse and
twigs and branches upon their ancient enemy。 He lashed
his tail and snarled； but went on eating。
And in such fashion were we saved。 It was a mere
accidentthe sheerest accident。 Else would I have
died； there in Red…Eye's clutch； and there would have
been no bridging of time to the tune of a thousand
centuries down to a progeny that reads newspapers and
rides on electric carsay； and that writes narratives
of bygone happenings even as this is written。
CHAPTER XVII
It was in the early fall of the following year that it
happened。 After his failure to get the Swift One；
Red…Eye had taken another wife； and； strange to relate；
she was still alive。 Stranger still； they had a baby
several months oldRed…Eye's first child。 His previous
wives had never lived long enough to bear him children。
The year had gone well for all of us。 The weather had
been exceptionally mild and food plentiful。 I remember
especially the turnips of that year。 The nut crop was
also very heavy； and the wild plums were larger and
sweeter than usual。
In short； it was a golden year。 And then it happened。
It was in the early morning； and we were surprised in
our caves。 In the chill gray light we awoke from
sleep； most of us； to encounter death。 The Swift One
and I were aroused by a pandemonium of screeching and
gibbering。 Our cave was the highest of all on the
cliff； and we crept to the mouth and peered down。 The
open space was filled with the Fire People。 Their
cries and yells were added to the clamor； but they had
order and plan； while we Folk had none。 Each one of us
fought and acted for himself； and no one of us knew the
extent of the calamity that was befalling us。
By the time we got to stone…throwing； the Fire People
had massed thick at the base of the cliff。 Our first
volley must have mashed some heads； for when they
swerved back from the cliff three of their number were
left upon the ground。 These were struggling and
floundering； and one was trying to crawl away。 But we
fixed them。 By this time we males were roaring with
rage； and we rained rocks upon the three men that were
down。 Several of the Fire…Men returned to drag them
into safety； but our rocks drove the rescuers back。
The Fire People became enraged。 Also； they became
cautious。 In spite of their angry yells； they kept at
a distance and sent flights of arrows against us。 This
put an end to the rock…throwing。 By the time half a
dozen of us had been killed and a score injured； the
rest of us retreated inside our caves。 I was not out
of range in my lofty cave； but the distance was great
enough to spoil effective shooting； and the Fire People
did not waste many arrows on me。 Furthermore； I was
curious。 I wanted to see。 While the Swift One
remained well inside the cave； trembling with fear and
making low wailing sounds because I would not come in；
I crouched at the entrance and watched。
The fighting had now become intermittent。 It was a
sort of deadlock。 We were in the caves； and the
question with the Fire People was how to get us out。
They did not dare come in after us； and in general we
would not expose ourselves to their arrows。
Occasionally； when one of them drew in close to the
base of the cliff； one or another of the Folk would
smash a rock down。 In return； he would be transfixed
by half a dozen arrows。 This ruse worked well for some
time； but finally the Folk no longer were inveigled
into showing themselves。 The deadlock was complete。
Behind the Fire People I could see the little wizened
old hunter directing it all。 They obeyed him； and went
here and there at his commands。 Some of them went into
the forest and returned with loads of dry wood； leaves；
and grass。 All the Fire People drew in closer。 While
most of them stood by with bows and arrows； ready to
shoot any of the Folk that exposed themselves； several
of the Fire…Men heaped the dry grass and wood at the
mouths of the lower tier of caves。 Out of these heaps
they conjured the monster we fearedFIRE。 At first；
wisps of smoke arose and curled up the cliff。 Then I
could see the red…tongued flames darting in and out
through the wood like tiny snakes。 The smoke grew
thicker and thicker； at times shrouding the whole face
of the cliff。 But I was high up and it did not bother
me much； though it stung my eyes and I rubbed them with
my knuckles。
Old Marrow…Bone was the first to be smoked out。 A
light fan of air drifted the smoke away at the time so
that I saw clearly。 He broke out through the smoke；
stepping on a burning coal and screaming with the
sudden hurt of it； and essayed to climb up the cliff。
The arrows showered about him。 He came to a pause on a
ledge； clutching a knob of rock for support； gasping
and sneezing and shaking his head。 He swayed back and
forth。 The feathered ends of a dozen arrows were
sticking out of him。 He was an old man； and he did not
want to die。 He swayed wider and wider； his knees
giving under him； and as he swayed he wailed most
plaintively。 His hand released its grip and he lurched
outward to the fall。 His old bones must have been
sadly broken。 He groaned and strove feebly to rise；
but a Fire…Man rushed in upon him and brained him with
a club。
And as it happened with Marrow…Bone； so it happened
with many of the Folk。 Unable to endure the
smoke…suffocation； they rushed out to fall beneath the
arrows。 Some of the women and children remained in the
caves to strangle to death； but the majority met death
outside。
When the Fire…Men had in this fashion cleared the first
tier of caves； they began making arrangements to
duplicate the operation on the second tier of caves。
It was while they were climbing up with their grass and
wood； that Red…Eye； followed by his wife； with the baby
holding to her tightly； made a successful flight up the
cliff。 The Fire…Men must have concluded that in the
interval between the smoking…out operations we would
remain in our caves； so that they were unprepared； and
their arrows did not begin to fly till Red…Eye and his
wife were well up the wall。 When he reached the top；
he turned about and glared down at them； roaring and
beating his chest。 They arched their arrows at him；
and though he was untouched he fled on。
I watched a third tier smoked out； and a fourth。 A few
of the Folk escaped up the cliff； but most of them were
shot off the face of it as they strove to climb。 I
remember Long…Lip。 He got as far as my ledge； crying
piteously；