Longhead: The Story of the First FireRobinson, C. H. (Charles Henry)
Science
Longhead: The Story of the First Fire
Robinson, C. H. (Charles Henry)
Industries, Primitive; Prehistoric peoples
A few days later, while pursuing some half-grown wild pigs, and when
they were about to plunge into a den in the rocks, he threw his spear at
the last one, in disappointment. To his surprise, it passed clear
through the animal, killing it at once. He carried the pig to the cave
and that night sat long before the fire in deep thought. Finally, he
selected a long and thin fragment of flint, rather broader than those he
had used for the spear, wrapped some small roots about it at one end to
protect his hand, and he had a knife--the first one in the world. The
next morning he tied a strip of bark around his waist to support the
knife, and when he returned in the evening he brought with him several
dry and slender sticks shorter than his spear and proceeded to bind a
sharp splinter of flint to each. Thereafter, he always carried one of
these short ones in addition to his long spear, and thus a javelin was
invented. He practiced throwing this at every animal he saw, and,
indeed, at other objects, and soon became quite expert in its use. He
found, too, that it was now much easier to keep the larder well
supplied.
In his wanderings, Longhead one day approached quite near the locality
in which he had formerly resided with the group, and where he had
received the terrible beating which had made him an exile. He gnashed
his teeth when he thought of the man who had vented his jealous rage
upon him and was wondering in his mind how he could obtain revenge. At
that instant he turned around a point of rocks and found himself face to
face with the giant himself. The fellow was all of a head taller and at
least fifty pounds heavier than Longhead; his strength was immense and
his temper ferocious. By reason of his size and fierce temper, as well
as the surly grunts he generally used instead of words, he was known
among the people of the group as the Bear. He was a veritable tyrant and
most of the others were practically his slaves. When Bear saw a man or
woman with food he wanted, he reached for it with a roar, and it was at
once given up or its owner was beaten nearly to death. He had a large
number of the women so terrified that they did not dare to associate
with the other men; these he kept near himself and compelled them to
supply him with food. Longhead had once persuaded one of these women to
accompany him on a trip in search of food. They were absent several
days, and on his return, Bear had given him the beating. Bear knew him
at once, and with a howl of rage and uplifted club, rushed upon him.
Longhead was terribly frightened, and for a moment forgot all about his
spear, but in a second he recalled the fate of the pig and other animals
and, with all his strength, he threw his javelin at the hairy breast of
the advancing enemy, now but a pace or two distant. It went nearly
through his body and, with a yell of pain, the giant threw up his hands
and fell to the ground. He tried to pull the weapon from his body, and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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