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but never venturing into it。 Once we broke back to the
westward； crossing a range of mountains and coming down
to the coast。 But it was no place for us。 There were
no treesonly bleak headlands； a thundering surf； and
strong winds that seemed never to cease from blowing。
We turned back across the mountains； travelling east
and south； until we came in touch with the great swamp
again。
Soon we gained the southern extremity of the swamp； and
we continued our course south and east。 It was a
pleasant land。 The air was warm； and we were again in
the forest。 Later on we crossed a low…lying range of
hills and found ourselves in an even better forest
country。 The farther we penetrated from the coast the
warmer we found it； and we went on and on until we came
to a large river that seemed familiar to the Swift One。
It was where she must have come during the four years'
absence from the harde。 This river we crossed on logs；
landing on side at the large bluff。 High up on the
bluff we found our new home most difficult of access
and quite hidden from any eye beneath。
There is little more of my tale to tell。 Here the
Swift One and I lived and reared our family。 And here
my memories end。 We never made another migration。 I
never dream beyond our high； inaccessible cave。 And
here must have been born the child that inherited the
stuff of my dreams； that had moulded into its being all
the impressions of my lifeor of the life of
Big…Tooth； rather； who is my other…self； and not my
real self； but who is so real to me that often I am
unable to tell what age I am living in。
I often wonder about this line of descent。 I； the
modern； am incontestably a man； yet I； Big…Tooth； the
primitive； am not a man。 Somewhere； and by straight
line of descent； these two parties to my dual
personality were connected。 Were the Folk； before
their destruction； in the process of becoming men？ And
did I and mine carry through this process？ On the other
hand； may not some descendant of mine have gone in to
the Fire People and become one of them？ I do not know。
There is no way of learning。 One thing only is
certain； and that is that Big…Tooth did stamp into the
cerebral constitution of one of his progeny all the
impressions of his life； and stamped them in so
indelibly that the hosts of intervening generations
have failed to obliterate them。
There is one other thing of which I must speak before I
close。 It is a dream that I dream often； and in point
of time the real event must have occurred during the
period of my living in the high； inaccessible cave。 I
remember that I wandered far in the forest toward the
east。 There I came upon a tribe of Tree People。 I
crouched in a thicket and watched them at play。 They
were holding a laughing council； jumping up and down
and screeching rude choruses。
Suddenly they hushed their noise and ceased their
capering。 They shrank down in fear； and quested
anxiously about with their eyes for a way of retreat。
Then Red…Eye walked in among them。 They cowered away
from him。 All were frightened。 But he made no attempt
to hurt them。 He was one of them。 At his heels； on
stringy bended legs； supporting herself with knuckles
to the ground on either side； walked an old female of
the Tree People； his latest wife。 He sat down in the
midst of the circle。 I can see him now； as I write
this； scowling； his eyes inflamed； as he peers about
him at the circle of the Tree People。 And as he peers
he crooks one monstrous leg and with his gnarly toes
scratches himself on the stomach。 He is Red…Eye； the
atavism。
End