Katharine Elizabeth Dopp

Do you think that the Cave-men can live in their cave when they go back?

What do you think they lost in the flood?

What did the Cave-men prize most of all?

Can you tell why they thought the fire was alive?

The Cave-men were anxious about their home, so they hastened to the cave.

Their bare feet left clear tracks in the layer of fine mud.

But they were too anxious about the fire to think of such things as tracks in the mud.

They did not know much about the fire or the flood, but they thought that they both were alive.

They feared that the fire had been driven away.

Yet they hoped to find a few live coals that they could kindle into a flame.

But not even a stone was left on the spot to mark the place where the fireplace had been.

Everything had been swept away by the flood.

Firekeeper searched in vain for a spark.

When at last she knew that the fire was gone, she wrung her hands and wailed.

The people joined in Firekeeper’s cries until Strongarm comforted them.

Strongarm hoped that their neighbors still had fire and sent Sharpeyes to find out.

Then he crept through the mouth of the cave to see what had happened there.

The water had gone down in the large cavern, but it was still rumbling below.

The floor of the cave was wet and slippery and covered with fine mud.

Slowly Strongarm groped his way through the dark and damp cavern.

He wanted to find Sabre-tooth’s skin.

He moved his hands over the floor of the cave and into each corner and crevice.

But no trace of the skin could he find.

Then the Cave-men hunted for their weapons, but they, too, had been carried away.

The Cave-men had lost all they had in the flood.

When they saw Sharpeyes coming they went to meet him, but he brought them no good news.

There was no more fire on the wooded hills.

There was sorrow everywhere.

THINGS TO DO