Rago and Goni, the Tree-Dweller Children

CHAPTER IX THE ATTACK

Suddenly he stopped, for he heard a loud call.

“Help! help!” came from the distance.

“I’m coming,” shouted Rago, “I’m coming,” and he ran in the direction of the call.

“Help! help!” came the call again, and this time Rago knew that it was Long-head calling.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” shouted Rago as he ran on as fast as he could. It was not very easy running, for the trees were very thick in this part of the forest.

As he neared the spot from which the sound had come, he heard a fierce growl.

Growl after growl he heard. “’Tis a wolf, ’tis a wolf,” he thought.

“Where is your torch, Long-head?” panted Rago, as he came up out of breath.

He saw Long-head standing against the tree, and the wolf ready to spring upon him.

Long-head was terribly frightened, for he could not defend himself against the wolf.His torch was out, and he had lost his club. He didn’t dare attempt to climb the tree for fear the wolf would seize him.

Rago came up cautiously from behind. With one bound he waved his torch before the eyes of the wolf.

The fire terrified the wolf and he made one leap for the thicket.

Then Long-head sank to the ground. He was weak with fright.

“He almost had me, that time,” said Long-head.

“He was upon me before I knew it. My torch had gone out and I was waiting for you, when the wolf sprang toward me.

“He must have come from the thicket, because I didn’t see him until he was upon me.”

“That certainly was a narrow escape,” said Rago.

“I am glad I heard you call.

“We must stay together now; my torch will protect both of us.”

“Let us find something to eat,” said Long-head.

So they walked on through the forest. They found nuts and roots and fruits.

“Look out,” said Long-head, pointing to an opening in the hillside.

“That is the home of the cave bear. Don’t go too near.”“The cave bears are asleep, aren’t they?” asked Rago.

“Yes, but they may wake up,” answered Long-head.

“I shouldn’t care to be attacked by a cave bear,” said Long-head. “They certainly are fierce creatures.”“What a fine patch of blueberries!” said Rago.

“Goni and baby sister would like some of these berries, I know. I wish I might carry some to them.”

“I will show you how to make a basket,” said Long-head.

“Let us find some rushes.”

“There is a marshy place,” said Long-head, pointing to the river. “We can find some rushes there.”

So the boys gathered the rushes and sat down upon the ground to make the basket.

Long-head wove the rushes together for the bottom of the basket.When he had tied the ends together at the top, he wove around the sides, until the basket was deep enough. Then he fastened the rushes tightly, so that the basket would be strong enough to hold the berries.

“What a fine basket,” said Rago. “I have never seen a rush basket before.

“Now let me try to make one.” Then Rago wove a basket like the one which Long-head had made.

“Mother will be pleased to see my basket,” said Rago.

“Now for the blueberry patch. We can fill our baskets.”

The two boys picked enough berries to fill their baskets.

“These baskets are very strong,” said Rago.

“Yes,” said Long-head. “Oak leaves make strong baskets, also.”

After they had filled their baskets the boys wandered about for a while.

They watched the cattle going toward the stream for their evening’s drink.

“Let us follow them,” said Long-head.They enjoyed seeing the cattle wade knee-deep into the stream and drink of the clear, cool water.

Both Rago and Long-head dipped their hands into the water. They filled them and drank.

They were thirsty, for they had had no water all day.

“’Tis growing late,” said Long-head. “See, the sun is setting.

“The men will be coming back to the fire. Let us go back also.

“We shall have to tell them about the fierce wolf.”

“Will they play it?” asked Rago.

“Yes, indeed,” answered Long-head.

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