Do you ever gather kindling to start a fire? Have you ever seen or heard of tinder? _Strongarm Tells Firekeeper His Secret_ Several years had passed by since Strongarm made fire. The Cave-men had never prospered so before. Strongarm was their wisest man, and they all obeyed him in time of danger. Cave-men came from far and near to see him and to hear what he said. He had kept his secret all these years, but now he knew that it was time to tell it. He knew that he was growing old, and that some one else must share the secret. So one day he called Firekeeper to a fallen tree that had lain near the cave for many years. [Illustration: “_It was here that he showed Firekeeper how to make fire_”] Its wood had become very dry, and parts of it were beginning to decay. It was by this log that he told his secret. It was here that he showed Firekeeper how to make fire. He took a dry stick for a spindle and twirled it on the dry log. As he twirled he prayed to the fire god. He worked until he got fire. Then he let Firekeeper twirl the sticks until she got a spark. The first time she tried it, she could not get fire. So Strongarm showed her how to make a groove in the log where the wood meal could collect. Soon the wood meal began to glow, and she gently fanned it with her hand. She placed dry tinder close beside it and fanned it into a blaze. Then Strongarm told her to teach her daughters how to make fire. He and Firekeeper were growing old, but he knew their clan would always need fire. Firekeeper remembered what Strongarm said, and she taught her daughters to make fire. A few years after all the clans on the hills had some one who knew how to make fire. In some clans a woman did this work. In others young girls did it. In some clans this work was done by men. Everywhere people had some one to make and take care of the fire. [Illustration: _A drill for boring holes can be made into a fire drill_] THINGS TO DO _Show how Strongarm taught Firekeeper to make fire._ _Examine the sticks that you selected some time ago for a fire drill._ _If you choose a hard piece for a spindle, your drill will work better if you choose soft wood for the hearth._ _Round the ends of the spindle and make a shallow hole with a groove beside it in the hearth._ _Make a shallow hole in a flat piece of wood to hold the upper end of the spindle._ _After you learn to work the drill with your hands, try a strap._ _When you can use the strap easily, try a bow._ _If you keep on trying you will be able to get fire with your fire drill._ [Illustration: _The spindle of a fire drill_] [Illustration: _The hearth of a fire drill_] XXXV THINGS TO THINK ABOUT Have you ever read stories not written in books? Can you think how large pieces of rock get broken off from the cliffs? Can you think how they become smooth and rounded?