Cave dwellers -- Juvenile literature; Prehistoric peoples -- Juvenile literature
Although Strong Arm, Quack Quack and the Foolish One were from tribes
strange to Big Foot and Tall, they were all able to understand each
other perfectly, by means of the simple gesture language common to all
tribes in the lower stage of savagery. Thus, the Hairy Man, from still
another tribe, had no difficulty in making himself understood, nor in
learning the thoughts or wishes of his companions.
One day, when hunting, the little band came upon a flint pit. To the
Cave People the old gravel bed meant nothing, but Tall and Big Foot
became greatly excited, and they grabbed the flakes that had become
chipped from the flint cores and dashed them violently against a great
stone lying near. Faint sparks flew. Then Tall covered the rocks with
the feathers of a dead fowl and struck among them with the flint flake.
Soon the feathers were ignited by the sparks. And Strong Arm and Quack
Quack marveled at the Fire Beast which the strange rock had been able to
summon.
The tribe from whence Tall and Big Foot came, had long known the use of
flint in kindling fires, and well they knew the treasures they had
found. From them the Cave People learned, also, and Strong Arm and Quack
Quack bore with them always thereafter, one of these strange and
wonderful stones, with which they soon became able to call forth the
Fire Beast to their protection.
More and more, as the days passed, Tall taught them wonderful things.
The flesh they cooked remained sweet for many days and did not grow rank
with time, as raw meat did. Thus a new hope sprang up in the hearts of
the Cave People, for armed with these rude flints, they were able at any
time to kindle a fire and protect themselves from the forest enemies.
Also they cooked their food and, this made possible the long, dangerous
journey to the land of their fathers.
In spite of the height of Tall and the long limbs and great muscles of
Big Foot, they wished always to carry out the desires of Quack Quack.
Not only was she a woman, and for all women they cherished a great
tenderness, but also was she strong, and both these men were unable to
forget the blows she had given them when first they had attacked the
Cave Dwellers and their little band. To Quack Quack, therefore, they
looked for commands and they obeyed her words and gestures, while they
sought her good will. But in spite of all this, Strong Arm remained the
leader over all, for he was able to stand up before any man in the
group, and the words which he spoke and the desires he made known were
always for the good of the band.
So it came about naturally that when Strong Arm and Quack Quack
signified their desire to return to the Hollow, which was the old home
of the Cave People, that the Hairy Man, Tall and Big Foot gave heed to
them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account