Before Adam

pace rose up high bluffs. On the other side was the river. The earth bank ran steeply down to the water, but here and there, in several plac

and I, and a few other simple bodies, were what might be termed suburban residents. We were part of the horde, though we lived a distance away from it. It wa

n the open space I saw many of the Folk. I had been straying, alone and a child, for a week. During that time I had seen not one of my

. Leaping and scrambling over the rocks, they plunged into the mouths of the caves and disappeared...all but one, a little baby, that had been dropped in the excite

Why had the Folk run away from me? In later time, when I came to know their ways, I was to learn. When they saw me dashing out of the

had not gained their own caves. Some of the young ones had sought refuge in other caves. The mothers did not call for them by name, because that was an invention we had not yet made. All were nameless. The mothers uttered querulous, anxious

e part in my life, and for that matter he already played a large part in the lives of all the members of the horde. He it was whom I shall call Red-Eye in the pages of this history-so ca

ur kind I ever saw. Nor did I ever see one of the Fire People so large as he, nor one of the Tree People. Sometimes, when in the newspape

d, loose blow of his fist could have smashed their skulls like egg-shells. With a sweep of his wicked feet (or hind-hands) he could have disembowelled them. A twist could have bro

h hair all over, on the inside of the arms as well as the outside, and even the ears themselves. The only places on him where the hair did not grow were the soles of hi

ep he touched the knuckles of his hands to the ground on either side of him. He was awkward in the semi-erect position of walking that he assumed, and he really touched his knuckles to the ground in order to balance himself. But oh, I tell you he could r

n going through this change, and our bodies and carriage had likewise changed. But Red-Eye had reverted to the more primitive tree-dwel

stas among the trees and trying to catch a glimpse of the hunting animal that all suspected had pursu

me. He proceeded casually on his way until abreast of me, and then, without warning and with incredible swiftness, he smote me a buffet on the head. I was knocked backward fully a dozen feet before I fetched up against the ground,

himper and sob to my heart's content. Several of the women gathered curiously about me, and I recogniz

e. I was frightened, and for a time I endured them, then anger got the best of me and I sprang tooth and nail upon the most audacious one of them-none other than Lop-Ear himself. I have

ceeded in getting on him what in my college days I learned was called a half-Nelson. This hold gave me the decided advantage. But I did not enjoy it long. He twisted up one leg, and

d him across the open and down a run-way to the river. But he was better acquainted with the locality and ran along th

attered mockingly at me, and, springing upon me unseen, tumbled me over. He did not risk a second encounter, however, and took himself off. I was between him and the entrance, an

n I ran after him, and again he ran into the cave; but this time I stopped at the mouth. I dropped back a short distance

as curious. I could not understand how he eluded me. Always he went into the cave, never did he come out of it, yet

from me, and we sat together with our arms around each other. A little later he disclosed the mystery of the wide-mouthed cave. Holding

e behave that before long I was let alone. Lop-Ear made me acquainted with the village. There was little that he could tell me of conditi

ond, where, in a grassy place among the trees, we made a meal of stringy-rooted carrot

mitated him. Then it was that I looked to see the cause of his fear. It was Red-Eye, swaggering down the centre of the run-way and scowling fiercely with his inflamed eyes. I notice

ves, to a tiny crevice that could not be seen from the ground. Into this Lop-Ear squeezed. I followed with difficulty, so narrow was the entrance, and found myself in a small rock-cha