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could return to our own land in the same manner that we
had come。
We had learned how to cross a river； though we did not
know it。 And this was something that no one else of the
Folk had ever done。 We were the first of the Folk to
set foot on the north bank of the river； and； for that
matter； I believe the last。 That they would have done
so in the time to come is undoubted； but the migration
of the Fire People； and the consequent migration of the
survivors of the Folk； set back our evolution for
centuries。
Indeed； there is no telling how disastrous was to be
the outcome of the Fire People's migration。
Personally； I am prone to believe that it brought about
the destruction of the Folk； that we； a branch of lower
life budding toward the human； were nipped short off
and perished down by the roaring surf where the river
entered the sea。 Of course； in such an eventuality； I
remain to be accounted for； but I outrun my story； and
such accounting will be made before I am done。
CHAPTER XII
I have no idea how long Lop…Ear and I wandered in the
land north of the river。 We were like mariners wrecked
on a desert isle； so far as concerned the likelihood of
our getting home again。 We turned our backs upon the
river； and for weeks and months adventured in that
wilderness where there were no Folk。 It is very
difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying； and
impossible to do it from day to day。 Most of it is
hazy and indistinct； though here and there I have vivid
recollections of things that happened。
Especially do I remember the hunger we endured on the
mountains between Long Lake and Far Lake； and the calf
we caught sleeping in the thicket。 Also； there are the
Tree People who dwelt in the forest between Long Lake
and the mountains。 It was they who chased us into the
mountains and compelled us to travel on to Far Lake。
First； after we left the river； we worked toward the
west till we came to a small stream that flowed through
marshlands。 Here we turned away toward the north；
skirting the marshes and after several days arriving at
what I have called Long Lake。 We spent some time
around its upper end； where we found food in plenty；
and then； one day； in the forest； we ran foul of the
Tree People。 These creatures were ferocious apes；
nothing more。 And yet they were not so different from
us。 They were more hairy； it is true； their legs were
a trifle more twisted and gnarly； their eyes a bit
smaller； their necks a bit thicker and shorter； and
their nostrils slightly more like orifices in a sunken
surface； but they had no hair on their faces and on the
palms of their hands and the soles of their feet； and
they made sounds similar to ours with somewhat similar
meanings。 After all； the Tree People and the Folk were
not so unlike。
I found him first； a little withered； dried…up old
fellow； wrinkled…faced and bleary…eyed and tottery。 He
was legitimate prey。 In our world there was no
sympathy between the kinds； and he was not our kind。
He was a Tree…Man； and he was very old。 He was sitting
at the foot of a treeevidently his tree； for we could
see the tattered nest in the branches； in which he
slept at night。
I pointed him out to Lop…Ear； and we made a rush for
him。 He started to climb； but was too slow。 I caught
him by the leg and dragged him back。 Then we had fun。
We pinched him； pulled his hair； tweaked his ears； and
poked twigs into him； and all the while we laughed with
streaming eyes。 His futile anger was most absurd。 He
was a comical sight； striving to fan into flame the
cold ashes of his youth； to resurrect his strength dead
and gone through the oozing of the yearsmaking woful
faces in place of the ferocious ones he intended；
grinding his worn teeth together； beating his meagre
chest with feeble fists。
Also； he had a cough； and he gasped and hacked and
spluttered prodigiously。 Every time he tried to climb
the tree we pulled him back； until at last he
surrendered to his weakness and did no more than sit
and weep。 And Lop…Ear and I sat with him； our arms
around each other； and laughed at his wretchedness。
From weeping he went to whining； and from whining to
wailing； until at last he achieved a scream。 This
alarmed us； but the more we tried to make him cease；
the louder he screamed。 And then； from not far away in
the forest； came a 〃Goek！ Goek！〃 to our ears。 To this
there were answering cries； several of them； and from
very far off we could hear a big； bass 〃Goek！ Goek！
Goek！〃 Also； the 〃Whoo…whoo ！〃 call was rising in the
forest all around us。
Then came the chase。 It seemed it never would end。
They raced us through the trees； the whole tribe of
them； and nearly caught us。 We were forced to take to
the ground； and here we had the advantage； for they
were truly the Tree People； and while they out…climbed
us we out…footed them on the ground。 We broke away
toward the north； the tribe howling on our track。
Across the open spaces we gained； and in the brush they
caught up with us； and more than once it was nip and
tuck。 And as the chase continued； we realized that we
were not their kind； either； and that the bonds between
us were anything but sympathetic。
They ran us for hours。 The forest seemed interminable。
We kept to the glades as much as possible； but they
always ended in more thick forest。 Sometimes we
thought we had escaped； and sat down to rest； but
always； before we could recover our breath； we would
hear the hateful 〃Whoo…whoo！〃 cries and the terrible
〃Goek！ Goek！ Goek！〃 This latter sometimes terminated in
a savage 〃Ha ha ha ha haaaaa！！！〃
And in this fashion were we hunted through the forest
by the exasperated Tree People。 At last； by
mid…afternoon； the slopes began rising higher and
higher and the trees were becoming smaller。 Then we
came out on the grassy flanks of the mountains。 Here
was where we could make time； and here the Tree People
gave up and returned to their forest。
The mountains were bleak and inhospitable； and three
times that afternoon we tried to regain the woods。 But
the Tree People were lying in wait； and they drove us
back。 Lop…Ear and I slept that night in a dwarf tree；
no larger than a bush。 Here was no security； and we
would have 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