before adam(Ñǵ±Ö®Ç°)-µÚ22ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
been¡¡easy¡¡prey¡¡for¡¡any¡¡hunting¡¡animal¡¡that¡¡chanced¡¡along¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡morning£»¡¡what¡¡of¡¡our¡¡new¡gained¡¡respect¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Tree¡¡People£»¡¡
we¡¡faced¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mountains¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡we¡¡had¡¡no¡¡definite¡¡plan£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡idea£»¡¡
I¡¡am¡¡confident¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡were¡¡merely¡¡driven¡¡on¡¡by¡¡the¡¡danger¡¡we¡¡had¡¡escaped¡£¡¡
Of¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡wanderings¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡mountains¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡misty¡¡¡¡¡¡memories¡£¡¡
We¡¡were¡¡in¡¡that¡¡bleak¡¡region¡¡many¡¡days£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡suffered¡¡much£»¡¡especially¡¡
from¡¡fear£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡all¡¡so¡¡new¡¡and¡¡strange¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Also£»¡¡we¡¡suffered¡¡from¡¡the¡¡cold£»¡¡
and¡¡later¡¡from¡¡hunger¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Itwas¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡desolate¡¡¡¡¡¡land¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡rocks¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡foaming¡¡¡¡¡¡streams¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡clattering¡¡
cataracts¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡¡¡¡¡climbed¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡descended¡¡¡¡¡¡mighty¡¡¡¡canyons¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡gorges£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
ever£»¡¡from¡¡every¡¡view¡¡point£»¡¡there¡¡spread¡¡out¡¡before¡¡us£»¡¡in¡¡all¡¡directions£»¡¡
range¡¡upon¡¡range£»¡¡the¡¡unceasing¡¡mountains¡£¡¡We¡¡slept¡¡at¡¡night¡¡in¡¡holes¡¡and¡¡
crevices£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡one¡¡cold¡¡night¡¡we¡¡perched¡¡on¡¡top¡¡a¡¡slender¡¡pinnacle¡¡of¡¡
rock¡¡that¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡like¡¡a¡¡tree¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡then£»¡¡¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡hot¡¡¡¡¡¡midday£»¡¡dizzy¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡hunger£»¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡gained¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
divide¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡high¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡backbone¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡earth£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡north£»¡¡¡¡across¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
diminishing£»¡¡down¡falling¡¡ranges£»¡¡we¡¡caught¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡a¡¡far¡¡lake¡£¡¡The¡¡
sun¡¡shone¡¡upon¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡about¡¡it¡¡were¡¡open£»¡¡level¡¡grass¡lands£»¡¡while¡¡to¡¡the¡¡
eastward¡¡we¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡line¡¡of¡¡a¡¡wide¡stretching¡¡forest¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡were¡¡two¡¡days¡¡in¡¡gaining¡¡the¡¡lake£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡were¡¡weak¡¡with¡¡hunger£»¡¡
but¡¡on¡¡its¡¡shore£»¡¡sleeping¡¡snugly¡¡in¡¡a¡¡thicket£»¡¡we¡¡found¡¡a¡¡part¡grown¡¡calf¡£¡¡
It¡¡gave¡¡us¡¡much¡¡trouble£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡knew¡¡no¡¡other¡¡way¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡than¡¡with¡¡our¡¡
hands¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡gorged¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡fill£»¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡carried¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡remainder¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡68¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡69¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Before¡¡Adam¡¡
meat¡¡to¡¡the¡¡eastward¡¡forest¡¡and¡¡hid¡¡it¡¡in¡¡a¡¡tree¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡never¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡that¡¡
tree£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡shore¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡that¡¡drained¡¡Far¡¡Lake¡¡was¡¡packed¡¡thick¡¡
with¡¡salmon¡¡that¡¡had¡¡come¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡to¡¡spawn¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Westward¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lake¡¡¡¡¡¡stretched¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡grass¡lands£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡here¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡
multitudes¡¡of¡¡bison¡¡and¡¡wild¡¡cattle¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Also¡¡were¡¡there¡¡many¡¡packs¡¡of¡¡wild¡¡
dogs£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡trees¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡safe¡¡¡¡¡¡place¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡£¡¡We¡¡
followed¡¡north¡¡along¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡for¡¡days¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡what¡¡reason¡¡I¡¡do¡¡
not¡¡know£»¡¡we¡¡abruptly¡¡left¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡and¡¡swung¡¡to¡¡the¡¡east£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡southeast£»¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡forest¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡shall¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡bore¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡
journey¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡indicate¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡show¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡finally¡¡¡¡¡¡arrived¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡Fire¡¡
People's¡¡country¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡came¡¡out¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡it¡¡for¡¡our¡¡river¡£¡¡We¡¡
had¡¡been¡¡lost¡¡so¡¡long¡¡that¡¡we¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡accept¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡being¡¡
lost¡¡as¡¡habitual¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡I¡¡look¡¡back¡¡I¡¡see¡¡clearly¡¡how¡¡our¡¡lives¡¡and¡¡destinies¡¡
are¡¡shaped¡¡by¡¡the¡¡merest¡¡chance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡it¡¡was¡¡our¡¡riverthere¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡telling£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡crossed¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡
probably¡¡have¡¡never¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡horde£»¡¡and¡¡I£»¡¡the¡¡modern£»¡¡the¡¡thousand¡¡
centuries¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡be¡¡born£»¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡been¡¡born¡¡¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡yet¡¡Lop¡Ear¡¡and¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡greatly¡¡to¡¡return¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡had¡¡experienced¡¡
homesickness¡¡on¡¡our¡¡journey£»¡¡the¡¡yearning¡¡for¡¡our¡¡own¡¡kind¡¡and¡¡land£»¡¡and¡¡
often¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡recollections¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Swift¡¡¡¡¡¡One£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡female¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡
made¡¡soft¡¡sounds£»¡¡whom¡¡it¡¡was¡¡good¡¡to¡¡be¡¡with£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡by¡¡herself¡¡
nobody¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡knew¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡recollections¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡accompanied¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡
sensations¡¡of¡¡hunger£»¡¡and¡¡these¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡hungry¡¡and¡¡when¡¡I¡¡
had¡¡just¡¡eaten¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡to¡¡come¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡river¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Food¡¡was¡¡plentiful£»¡¡principally¡¡berries¡¡
and¡¡succulent¡¡roots£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡river¡¡bank¡¡we¡¡played¡¡and¡¡lingered¡¡for¡¡days¡£¡¡
And¡¡then¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Lop¡Ear¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡visible¡¡process£»¡¡the¡¡coming¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡idea¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡expression¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡became¡¡plaintive¡¡and¡¡
querulous£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡greatly¡¡perturbed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡went¡¡muddy£»¡¡as¡¡
if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡grip¡¡on¡¡the¡¡inchoate¡¡thought¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡
plaintive£»¡¡¡¡¡¡querulous¡¡¡¡¡¡expression¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡idea¡¡¡¡¡¡persisted¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡clutched¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡
anew¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡river¡¡and¡¡the¡¡far¡¡shore¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡
speak£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡no¡¡sounds¡¡with¡¡which¡¡to¡¡express¡¡the¡¡idea¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡result¡¡was¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡69¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡70¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Before¡¡Adam¡¡
a¡¡¡¡¡¡gibberish¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡laugh¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡¡¡¡¡angered¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡grabbed¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡
suddenly¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡me¡¡on¡¡my¡¡back¡£¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡we¡¡fought£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡¡I¡¡
chased¡¡him¡¡up¡¡a¡¡tree£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡secured¡¡a¡¡long¡¡branch¡¡and¡¡poked¡¡me¡¡every¡¡
time¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡get¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡idea¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡gone¡¡¡¡¡¡glimmering¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡know£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
forgotten¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡it¡¡awoke¡¡in¡¡him¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Perhaps¡¡it¡¡was¡¡
the¡¡homing¡¡instinct¡¡in¡¡him¡¡asserting¡¡itself¡¡that¡¡made¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡persist¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡
any¡¡rate¡¡it¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡clearer¡¡than¡¡before¡£¡¡He¡¡led¡¡me¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡
where¡¡a¡¡log¡¡had¡¡grounded¡¡in¡¡an¡¡eddy¡£¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡was¡¡minded¡¡to¡¡play£»¡¡as¡¡
we¡¡had¡¡played¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡slough¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡did¡¡I¡¡change¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡as¡¡
I¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡tow¡¡up¡¡a¡¡second¡¡log¡¡from¡¡farther¡¡down¡¡the¡¡shore¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡until¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡were¡¡¡¡on¡¡the¡¡¡¡logs£»¡¡side¡¡by¡¡side¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡holding¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡
together£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡paddled¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡current£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡learned¡¡his¡¡intention¡£¡¡
He¡¡paused¡¡to¡¡point¡¡at¡¡the¡¡far¡¡shore£»¡¡and¡¡resumed¡¡his¡¡paddling£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡
time¡¡uttering¡¡loud¡¡and¡¡encouraging¡¡cries¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡understood£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡paddled¡¡
energetically¡£¡¡The¡¡swift¡¡current¡¡caught¡¡us£»¡¡flung¡¡us¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡south¡¡shore£»¡¡
but¡¡before¡¡we¡¡could¡¡make¡¡a¡¡landing¡¡flung¡¡us¡¡back¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡north¡¡shore¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Here¡¡¡¡¡¡arose¡¡¡¡¡¡dissension¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Seeing¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡north¡¡¡¡¡¡shore¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡near£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡began¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
paddle¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Lop¡Ear¡¡¡¡¡¡tried¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡paddle¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡south¡¡¡¡¡¡shore¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡logs¡¡
swung¡¡around¡¡in¡¡circles£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡got¡¡nowhere£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡flashing¡¡¡¡¡¡past¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡drifted¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡stream¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡fight¡£¡¡
We¡¡knew¡¡better¡¡than¡¡to¡¡let¡¡go¡¡the¡¡grips¡¡of¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡feet¡¡that¡¡held¡¡the¡¡logs¡¡
together¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡we¡¡chattered¡¡and¡¡abused¡¡each¡¡other¡¡with¡¡our¡¡tongues¡¡until¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡current¡¡¡¡¡¡flung¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡¡toward¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡south¡¡¡¡¡¡bank¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
nearest¡¡goal£»¡¡and¡¡together¡¡and¡¡amicably¡¡we¡¡paddled¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡landed¡¡in¡¡
an¡¡eddy£»¡¡and¡¡climbed¡¡directly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡to¡¡reconnoitre¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡70¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡71¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Before¡¡Adam¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡XIII¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡night¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡south¡¡¡¡¡¡bank¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
river¡¡that¡¡we¡¡discovered¡¡the¡¡Fire¡¡People¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡band¡¡of¡¡
wandering¡¡hunters¡¡went¡¡into¡¡camp¡¡not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡in¡¡which¡¡Lop¡Ear¡¡
and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡elected¡¡to¡¡roost¡¡for¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡voices¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Fire¡¡People¡¡at¡¡
first¡¡alarmed¡¡us£»¡¡but¡¡later£»¡¡when¡¡darkness¡¡had¡¡come£»¡¡we¡¡were¡¡attracted¡¡by¡¡
the¡¡fire¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡crept¡¡cautiously¡¡and¡¡silently¡¡from¡¡tree¡¡to¡¡tree¡¡till¡¡we¡¡got¡¡a¡¡
good¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scene¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡open¡¡¡¡¡¡space¡¡¡¡¡¡among¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡trees£»¡¡¡¡¡¡near¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡river£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡fire¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
burning¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡About¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡dozen¡¡¡¡¡¡Fire¡Men¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Lop¡Ear¡¡¡¡¡¡clutched¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡
suddenly£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡him¡¡tremble¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡more¡¡closely£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡
the¡¡wizened¡¡little¡¡old¡¡hunter¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡shot¡¡¡¡¡¡Broken¡Tooth¡¡out¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡tree¡¡
years¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡up¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡¡¡¡¡about£»¡¡throwing¡¡fresh¡¡¡¡¡¡wood¡¡
upon¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡he¡¡limped¡¡with¡¡his¡¡crippled¡¡leg¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Whatever¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡
it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡permanent¡¡injury¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡