before adam(亚当之前)-第7章
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balanced himself with his knuckles when walking。 Such an individual
was an atavism； and Red…Eye was an even greater atavism。
That is what he wasan atavism。 We were in the process of changing
our tree…life to life on the ground。 For many generations we had been
going through this change； and our bodies and carriage had likewise
changed。 But Red…Eye had reverted to the more primitive tree…dwelling
type。 Perforce； because he was born in our horde he stayed with us； but
in actuality he was an atavism and his place was elsewhere。
Very circumspect and very alert； he moved here and there about the
open space； peering through the vistas among the trees and trying to catch
a glimpse of the hunting animal that all suspected had pursued me。 And
while he did this； taking no notice of me； the Folk crowded at the cave…
mouths and watched。
At last he evidently decided that there was no danger lurking about。
He was returning from the head of the run…way； from where he had taken a
peep down at the drinking…place。 His course brought him near； but still
he did not notice me。 He proceeded casually on his way until abreast of
me； and then； without warning and with incredible swiftness； he smote me
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a buffet on the head。 I was knocked backward fully a dozen feet before I
fetched up against the ground； and I remember； half…stunned； even as the
blow was struck； hearing the wild uproar of clucking and shrieking
laughter that arose from the caves。 It was a great jokeat least in that
day； and right heartily the Folk appreciated it。
Thus was I received into the horde。 Red…Eye paid no further
attention to me； and I was at liberty to whimper and sob to my heart's
content。 Several of the women gathered curiously about me； and I
recognized them。 I had encountered them the preceding year when my
mother had taken me to the hazelnut canyons。
But they quickly left me alone； being replaced by a dozen curious and
teasing youngsters。 They formed a circle around me； pointing their
fingers； making faces； and poking and pinching me。 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 themnone other than Lop…
Ear himself。 I have so named him because he could prick up only one of
his ears。 The other ear always hung limp and without movement。 Some
accident had injured the muscles and deprived him of the use of it。
He closed with me； and we went at it for all the world like a couple of
small boys fighting。 We scratched and bit； pulled hair； clinched； and
threw each other down。 I remember I succeeded 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 with the foot （or hind…hand） made so savage an onslaught upon
my abdomen as to threaten to disembowel me。 I had to release him in
order to save myself； and then we went at it again。
Lop…Ear was a year older than I； but I was several times angrier than
he； and in the end he took to his heels。 I chased him across the open and
down a run…way to the river。 But he was better acquainted with the
locality and ran along the edge of the water and up another run…way。 He
cut diagonally across the open space and dashed into a wide…mouthed
cave。
Before I knew it； I had plunged after him into the darkness。 The next
moment I was badly frightened。 I had never been in a cave before。 I
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began to whimper and cry out。 Lop…Ear chattered 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； and he did not pass me； yet he seemed to have gone away。 I
listened； but could get no clew as to where he was。 This puzzled me； and
when I regained the outside I sat down to watch。
He never came out of the entrance； of that I was certain； yet at the end
of several minutes he chuckled at my elbow。 Again 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 and watched。 He did not come out； yet； as
before； he chuckled at my elbow and was chased by me a third time into
the cave。
This performance was repeated several times。 Then I followed him
into the cave； where I searched vainly for him。 I was curious。 I could
not understand how he eluded me。 Always he went into the cave； never
did he come out of it； yet always did he arrive there at my elbow and mock
me。 Thus did our fight transform itself into a game of hide and seek。
All afternoon； with occasional intervals； we kept it up； and a playful；
friendly spirit arose between us。 In the end； he did not run away 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 me by the
hand he led me inside。 It connected by a narrow crevice with another
cave； and it was through this that we regained the open air。
We were now good friends。 When the other young ones gathered
around to tease； he joined with me in attacking them； and so viciously did
we 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 conditions and
customshe had not the necessary vocabulary； but by observing his
actions I learned much； and also he showed me places and things。
He took me up the open space； between the caves and the river； and
into the forest beyond； where； in a grassy place among the trees； we made
a meal of stringy…rooted carrots。 After that we had a good drink at the
river and started up the run…way to the caves。
It was in the run…way that we came upon Red…Eye again。 The first I
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knew； Lop…Ear had shrunk away to one side and was crouching low
against the bank。 Naturally and involuntarily； I imitated 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 noticed that all the youngsters shrank away from him as we had
done； while the grown…ups regarded him with wary eyes when he drew
near； and stepped aside to give him the centre of the path。
As twilight came on； the open space was deserted。 The Folk were
seeking the safety of the caves。 Lop…Ear led the way to bed。 High up the
bluff we climbed； higher than all the other caves； 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…chamber。 It was very lownot more than a couple of feet in
height； and possibly three feet by four in width and length。 Here；
cuddled together in each other's arms； we slept out the night。
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CHAPTER VI
While the more courageous of the youngsters played in and out of the
large…mouthed caves； I early learned that such caves were unoccupied。
No one slept in them at night。 Only the crevice…mouthed caves were
used； the narrower the mouth the better。 This was from fear of the
preying animals that made life a burden to us in those days and nights。
The first morning； after my night's sleep with Lop…Ear； I learned the
advantage of the narrow…mouthed caves。 It was just daylight when old
Saber…Tooth； the tiger； walked into the open space。 Two of the Folk were
already up。 They made a rush for it。 Whether they were panic…stricken；
or whether he was too close on their heels for them to attempt to scramble
up the bluff to the crevices； I do not know； but at any rate they dashed into
the wide…mouthed cave wherein Lop…Ear and I had played the afternoon
before。
What happened inside there was no way of telling； but it is fair to
conclude that the two Folk slipped through the connecting crevice into the
other cave。 This crevice was too small to allow for the passage of Saber…
Tooth； and he came out the way he had gone in； unsatisfied and angry。 It
was evident that his night's hunting had been unsuccessful and that he had
expected to make a meal off of us。 He caught sight of the two Folk at the
other cave…mouth and sprang for them。 Of course； they darted through
the passageway into the first cave。 He emerged angrier than ever and
snarling。
Pandemonium broke loose amongst the rest of us。 All up and down
the great bluff； we crowded the crevices and outside ledges； and we were
all chattering and shrieking in a thousand keys。 And we were all making
facessnarling faces； this was an instinct with us。 We were as angry as
Saber…Tooth； though our anger was allied with fear。 I remember that I
shrieked and made faces with the best of them。 Not only did they set the
example； but I felt the urge from within me to do the same things they
wer
