Katharine Elizabeth Dopp

How do you think the Cave-men will get fire?

Where can fire be found without making it?

If the Cave-men had seen a place where there were natural fires, do you think they would remember where it was?

What do you think happened to the wild animals during the flood?

The cave was too damp to live in for several days after the flood.

The Cave-men camped at its mouth and waited for it to dry.

Not an animal came near them during that time.

Many animals had been drowned in the flood.

Many more had escaped to higher lands.

The Cave-men were safe for a time, but they had to live on bark and roots.

They knew that the animals would return, so they began to make new weapons.

It was well that they made them as soon as they did, for the animals soon came back.

At first the animals kept away from the cave, but when they no longer saw the fire, they began to come up nearer.

Then the Cave-men were frightened.

Some of them wanted to leave the cave and live as the Tree-dwellers had lived.

But Strongarm wanted to stay in the cave and to keep all the people in the clan together.

He knew that they could not keep together unless they had fire again.

So he talked with the bravest men, and they decided to hold a council.

Messengers were sent to call all the people to a meeting at the fire clan’s cave.

By midday they had assembled.

They had not held many councils.

They were not used to obeying.

At first there was great confusion, and loud and boisterous talking.

Each had a plan of his own.

But soon they became more quiet and began to listen to the wisest men.

All eyes were soon turned toward an old man who had been their mightiest hunter.

But now he was getting old, and his strength was beginning to fail.

The old man arose in the silence, and thus he spoke to his people:

“Many years have we lived on these hillsides.

Our fathers lived here before us.

They lived many years without fire.

They lived, and they worked, and they waited.

The fire god came among them.

He gave them burning branches.

He told them they were his children.

He asked them to feed him daily.

We have always tried to obey him.

We have always fed him daily.

He has given us his protection.

But the water god was angry.

He came in all his fury.

He drove us from our dwelling.

He rushed upon our fire god.

He drove him far away.

Now the water god has gone.

Our fire god may return.

He may be near us now.

We must search till we surely find him.

We must bring him home again.”

For a moment the old man was silent.

He waited for some one to speak.

At last Strongarm asked the old man if he knew where the fire god now lived.

To this the old man responded:

“That no one knows truly.

I have heard that he dwells in the dry wood.

But he seems not to hear our voices.

I have heard that he dwells in the mountains.

Our fathers have been to the mountains.

They were hunting the musk sheep and the marmot.

One night they were tired and hungry.

They were seeking a place of refuge.

They saw a light in the distance.

They ran to it.

They found the flaming fire.

It gave them its protection.

I have heard there are dark chasms.

I have heard that the fire springs from them.

I think I can find these mountains.

But my steps are getting feeble.

I need the help of a young man.

Who will go on this long hard journey?”

Then Sharpeyes stepped forward and said that he would go with the old man.

Everybody knew that Sharpeyes was a brave young man, and so it was agreed that he should be the one to go.

THINGS TO DO