До Адама
Chapter XIV
Ioftentookgreatdelightinwatchingthatevidenceofmyhandiwork;andsometimes,whenIwasmyselfassuredlysafe,thesightofitcausedmetolaugh.
WhiletheotherFolkwouldnothavecometoourrescuehadRed-EyeproceededtotearLop-Earandmetopiecesbeforetheireyes,neverthelesstheysympathizedwithus.PossiblyitwasnotsympathybutthewaytheyexpressedtheirhatredforRed-Eye;atanyratetheyalwayswarnedusofhisapproach.Whetherintheforest,atthedrinking-places,orintheopenspacebeforethecaves,theywerealwaysquicktowarnus.ThuswehadtheadvantageofmanyeyesinourfeudwithRed-Eye,theatavism.
Oncehenearlygotme.Itwasearlyinthemorning,andtheFolkwerenotyetup.Thesurprisewascomplete.Iwascutofffromthewayuptheclifftomycave.BeforeIknewitIhaddashedintothedouble-cave,—thecavewhereLop-Earhadfirsteludedmelongyearsbefore,andwhereoldSaber-ToothhadcometodiscomfiturewhenhepursuedthetwoFolk.BythetimeIhadgotthroughtheconnectingpassagebetweenthetwocaves,IdiscoveredthatRed-Eyewasnotfollowingme.Thenextmomenthechargedintothecavefromtheoutside.Islippedbackthroughthepassage,andhechargedoutandaroundandinuponmeagain.Imerelyrepeatedmyperformanceofslippingthroughthepassage.
Hekeptmetherehalfadaybeforehegaveup.Afterthat,whenLop-EarandIwerereasonablysureofgainingthedouble-cave,wedidnotretreatuptheclifftoourowncavewhenRed-Eyecameuponthescene.
