"Theseareourancestors，andtheirhistoryisourhistory。Rememberthatassurelyasweonedayswungdownoutofthetreesandwalkedupright，justassurely，onafarearlierday，didwecrawlupoutoftheseaandachieveourfirstadventureonland。"
CHAPTERI
Pictures！Pictures！Pictures！Often，beforeIlearned，didIwonderwhencecamethemultitudesofpicturesthatthrongedmydreams;fortheywerepicturesthelikeofwhichIhadneverseeninrealwake-a-daylife。
Theytormentedmychildhood，makingofmydreamsaprocessionofnightmaresandalittlelaterconvincingmethatIwasdifferentfrommykind，acreatureunnaturalandaccursed。
InmydaysonlydidIattainanymeasureofhappiness。
Mynightsmarkedthereignoffear——andsuchfear！I
makeboldtostatethatnomanofallthemenwhowalktheearthwithmeeversufferfearoflikekindanddegree。Formyfearisthefearoflongago，thefearthatwasrampantintheYoungerWorld，andintheyouthoftheYoungerWorld。Inshort，thefearthatreignedsupremeinthatperiodknownastheMid-Pleistocene。
WhatdoImean？IseeexplanationisnecessarybeforeI
cantellyouofthesubstanceofmydreams。Otherwise，littlecouldyouknowofthemeaningofthethingsI
knowsowell。AsIwritethis，allthebeingsandhappeningsofthatotherworldriseupbeforemeinvastphantasmagoria，andIknowthattoyoutheywouldberhymelessandreasonless。
WhattoyouthefriendshipofLop-Ear，thewarmlureoftheSwiftOne，thelustandtheatavismofRed-Eye？A
screamingincoherenceandnomore。Andascreamingincoherence，likewise，thedoingsoftheFirePeopleandtheTreePeople，andthegibberingcouncilsofthehorde。Foryouknownotthepeaceofthecoolcavesinthecliffs，thecircusofthedrinking-placesattheendoftheday。Youhaveneverfeltthebiteofthemorningwindinthetree-tops，noristhetasteofyoungbarksweetinyourmouth。
Itwouldbebetter，Idaresay，foryoutomakeyourapproach，asImademine，throughmychildhood。AsaboyIwasverylikeotherboys——inmywakinghours。ItwasinmysleepthatIwasdifferent。Frommyearliestrecollectionmysleepwasaperiodofterror。Rarelyweremydreamstincturedwithhappiness。Asarule，theywerestuffedwithfear——andwithafearsostrangeandalienthatithadnoponderablequality。NofearthatIexperiencedinmywakingliferesembledthefearthatpossessedmeinmysleep。Itwasofaqualityandkindthattranscendedallmyexperiences。
Forinstance，Iwasacityboy，acitychild，rather，towhomthecountrywasanunexploreddomain。YetI
neverdreamedofcities;nordidahouseeveroccurinanyofmydreams。Nor，forthatmatter，didanyofmyhumankindeverbreakthroughthewallofmysleep。I，whohadseentreesonlyinparksandillustratedbooks，wanderedinmysleepthroughinterminableforests。Andfurther，thesedreamtreeswerenotamerebluronmyvision。Theyweresharpanddistinct。Iwasontermsofpractisedintimacywiththem。Isaweverybranchandtwig;Isawandkneweverydifferentleaf。
WelldoIrememberthefirsttimeinmywakinglifethatIsawanoaktree。AsIlookedattheleavesandbranchesandgnarls，itcametomewithdistressingvividnessthatIhadseenthatsamekindoftreemanyandcountlesstimesnmysleep。SoIwasnotsurprised，stilllateroninmylife，torecognizeinstantly，thefirsttimeIsawthem，treessuchasthespruce，theyew，thebirch，andthelaurel。Ihadseenthemallbefore，andwasseeingthemeventhen，everynight，inmysleep。
This，asyouhavealreadydiscerned，violatesthefirstlawofdreaming，namely，thatinone’sdreamsoneseesonlywhathehasseeninhiswakinglife，orcombinationsofthethingshehasseeninhiswakinglife。Butallmydreamsviolatedthislaw。InmydreamsIneversawANYTHINGofwhichIhadknowledgeinmywakinglife。Mydreamlifeandmywakinglifewerelivesapart，withnotonethingincommonsavemyself。
Iwastheconnectinglinkthatsomehowlivedbothlives。
EarlyinmychildhoodIlearnedthatnutscamefromthegrocer，berriesfromthefruitman;butbeforeeverthatknowledgewasmine，inmydreamsIpickednutsfromtrees，orgatheredthemandatethemfromthegroundunderneathtrees，andinthesamewayIateberriesfromvinesandbushes。Thiswasbeyondanyexperienceofmine。
IshallneverforgetthefirsttimeIsawblueberriesservedonthetable。Ihadneverseenblueberriesbefore，andyet，atthesightofthem，thereleapedupinmymindmemoriesofdreamswhereinIhadwanderedthroughswampylandeatingmyfillofthem。Mymothersetbeforemeadishoftheberries。Ifilledmyspoon，butbeforeIraisedittomymouthIknewjusthowtheywouldtaste。NorwasIdisappointed。ItwasthesametangthatIhadtastedathousandtimesinmysleep。
Snakes？LongbeforeIhadheardoftheexistenceofsnakes，Iwastormentedbytheminmysleep。Theylurkedformeintheforestglades;leapedup，striking，undermyfeet;squirmedoffthroughthedrygrassoracrossnakedpatchesofrock;orpursuedmeintothetree-tops，encirclingthetrunkswiththeirgreatshiningbodies，drivingmehigherandhigherorfartherandfartheroutonswayingandcracklingbranches，thegroundadizzydistancebeneathme。
Snakes！——withtheirforkedtongues，theirbeadyeyesandglitteringscales，theirhissingandtheirrattling——didInotalreadyknowthemfartoowellonthatdayofmyfirstcircuswhenIsawthesnake-charmerliftthemup？
Theywereoldfriendsofmine，enemiesrather，thatpeopledmynightswithfear。
Ah，thoseendlessforests，andtheirhorror-hauntedgloom！ForwhateternitieshaveIwanderedthroughthem，atimid，huntedcreature，startingattheleastsound，frightenedofmyownshadow，keyed-up，everalertandvigilant，readyontheinstanttodashawayinmadflightformylife。ForIwasthepreyofallmanneroffiercelifethatdweltintheforest，anditwasinecstasiesoffearthatIfledbeforethehuntingmonsters。
WhenIwasfiveyearsoldIwenttomyfirstcircus。I
camehomefromitsick——butnotfrompeanutsandpinklemonade。Letmetellyou。Asweenteredtheanimaltent，ahoarseroaringshooktheair。Itoremyhandloosefrommyfather’sanddashedwildlybackthroughtheentrance。Icollidedwithpeople，felldown;andallthetimeIwasscreamingwithterror。Myfathercaughtmeandsoothedme。Hepointedtothecrowdofpeople，allcarelessoftheroaring，andcheeredmewithassurancesofsafety。
Nevertheless，itwasinfearandtrembling，andwithmuchencouragementonhispart，thatIatlastapproachedthelion’scage。Ah，Iknewhimontheinstant。Thebeast！Theterribleone！Andonmyinnervisionflashedthememoriesofmydreams，——themiddaysunshiningontallgrass，thewildbullgrazingquietly，thesuddenpartingofthegrassbeforetheswiftrushofthetawnyone，hisleaptothebull’sback，thecrashingandthebellowing，andthecrunchcrunchofbones;oragain，thecoolquietofthewater-hole，thewildhorseuptohiskneesanddrinkingsoftly，andthenthetawnyone——alwaysthetawnyone！——
theleap，thescreamingandthesplashingofthehorse，andthecrunchcrunchofbones;andyetagain，thesombretwilightandthesadsilenceoftheendofday，andthenthegreatfull-throatedroar，sudden，likeatrumpofdoom，andswiftuponittheinsaneshriekingandchatteringamongthetrees，andI，too，amtremblingwithfearandamoneofthemanyshriekingandchatteringamongthetrees。
Atthesightofhim，helpless，withinthebarsofhiscage，Ibecameenraged。Igrittedmyteethathim，dancedupanddown，screaminganincoherentmockeryandmakinganticfaces。Heresponded，rushingagainstthebarsandroaringbackatmehisimpotentwrath。Ah，heknewme，too，andthesoundsImadewerethesoundsofoldtimeandintelligibletohim。
Myparentswerefrightened。"Thechildisill，"saidmymother。"Heishysterical，"saidmyfather。Inevertoldthem，andtheyneverknew。AlreadyhadI
developedreticenceconcerningthisqualityofmine，thissemi-disassociationofpersonalityasIthinkIamjustifiedincallingit。
Isawthesnake-charmer，andnomoreofthecircusdidIseethatnight。Iwastakenhome，nervousandoverwrought，sickwiththeinvasionofmyreallifebythatotherlifeofmydreams。
Ihavementionedmyreticence。OnlyoncedidIconfidethestrangenessofitalltoanother。Hewasaboy——mychum;andwewereeightyearsold。FrommydreamsI
reconstructedforhimpicturesofthatvanishedworldinwhichIdobelieveIoncelived。Itoldhimoftheterrorsofthatearlytime，ofLop-Earandthepranksweplayed，ofthegibberingcouncils，andoftheFirePeopleandtheirsquattingplaces。
Helaughedatme，andjeered，andtoldmetalesofghostsandofthedeadthatwalkatnight。Butmostlydidhelaughatmyfeeblefancy。Itoldhimmore，andhelaughedtheharder。Isworeinallearnestnessthatthesethingswereso，andhebegantolookuponmequeerly。Also，hegaveamazinggarblingsofmytalestoourplaymates，untilallbegantolookuponmequeerly。
Itwasabitterexperience，butIlearnedmylesson。I
wasdifferentfrommykind。Iwasabnormalwithsomethingtheycouldnotunderstand，andthetellingofwhichwouldcauseonlymisunderstanding。Whenthestoriesofghostsandgoblinswentaround，Ikeptquiet。Ismiledgrimlytomyself。Ithoughtofmynightsoffear，andknewthatmineweretherealthings——realaslifeitself，notattenuatedvaporsandsurmisedshadows。
Formenoterrorsresidedinthethoughtofbugaboosandwickedogres。Thefallthroughleafybranchesandthedizzyheights;thesnakesthatstruckatmeasI
dodgedandleapedawayinchatteringflight;thewilddogsthathuntedmeacrosstheopenspacestothetimber——thesewereterrorsconcreteandactual，happeningsandnotimaginings，thingsofthelivingfleshandofsweatandblood。OgresandbugaboosandI
hadbeenhappybed-fellows，comparedwiththeseterrorsthatmadetheirbedwithmethroughoutmychildhood，andthatstillbedwithme，now，asIwritethis，fullofyears。
CHAPTERII
IhavesaidthatinmydreamsIneversawahumanbeing。OfthisfactIbecameawareveryearly，andfeltpoignantlythelackofmyownkind。Asaverylittlechild，even，Ihadafeeling，inthemidstofthehorrorofmydreaming，thatifIcouldfindbutoneman，onlyonehuman，Ishouldbesavedfrommydreaming，thatIshouldbesurroundednomorebyhauntingterrors。Thisthoughtobsessedmeeverynightofmylifeforyears——ifonlyIcouldfindthatonehumanandbesaved！
ImustiteratethatIhadthisthoughtinthemidstofmydreaming，andItakeitasanevidenceofthemergingofmytwopersonalities，asevidenceofapointofcontactbetweenthetwodisassociatedpartsofme。
Mydreampersonalitylivedinthelongago，beforeeverman，asweknowhim，cametobe;andmyotherandwake-a-daypersonalityprojecteditself，totheextentoftheknowledgeofman’sexistence，intothesubstanceofmydreams。
Perhapsthepsychologistsofthebookwillfindfaultwithmywayofusingthephrase，"disassociationofpersonality。"Iknowtheiruseofit，yetamcompelledtouseitinmyownwayindefaultofabetterphrase。
ItakeshelterbehindtheinadequacyoftheEnglishlanguage。Andnowtotheexplanationofmyuse，ormisuse，ofthephrase。
ItwasnottillIwasayoungman，atcollege，thatI
gotanyclewtothesignificanceofmydreams，andtothecauseofthem。Uptothattimetheyhadbeenmeaninglessandwithoutapparentcausation。ButatcollegeIdiscoveredevolutionandpsychology，andlearnedtheexplanationofvariousstrangementalstatesandexperiences。Forinstance，therewasthefalling-through-spacedream——thecommonestdreamexperience，onepracticallyknown，byfirst-handexperience，toallmen。
This，myprofessortoldme，wasaracialmemory。Itdatedbacktoourremoteancestorswholivedintrees。
Withthem，beingtree-dwellers，theliabilityoffallingwasanever-presentmenace。Manylosttheirlivesthatway;allofthemexperiencedterriblefalls，savingthemselvesbyclutchingbranchesastheyfelltowardtheground。
Nowaterriblefall，avertedinsuchfashion，wasproductiveofshock。Suchshockwasproductiveofmolecularchangesinthecerebralcells。Thesemolecularchangesweretransmittedtothecerebralcellsofprogeny，became，inshort，racialmemories。
Thus，whenyouandI，asleepordozingofftosleep，fallthroughspaceandawaketosickeningconsciousnessjustbeforewestrike，wearemerelyrememberingwhathappenedtoourarborealancestors，andwhichhasbeenstampedbycerebralchangesintotheheredityoftherace。
Thereisnothingstrangeinthis，anymorethanthereisanythingstrangeinaninstinct。Aninstinctismerelyahabitthatisstampedintothestuffofourheredity，thatisall。Itwillbenoted，inpassing，thatinthisfallingdreamwhichissofamiliartoyouandmeandallofus，weneverstrikebottom。Tostrikebottomwouldbedestruction。Thoseofourarborealancestorswhostruckbottomdiedforthwith。
True，theshockoftheirfallwascommunicatedtothecerebralcells，buttheydiedimmediately，beforetheycouldhaveprogeny。YouandIaredescendedfromthosethatdidnotstrikebottom;thatiswhyyouandI，inourdreams，neverstrikebottom。
Andnowwecometodisassociationofpersonality。Weneverhavethissenseoffallingwhenwearewideawake。Ourwake-a-daypersonalityhasnoexperienceofit。Then——andheretheargumentisirresistible——itmustbeanotheranddistinctpersonalitythatfallswhenweareasleep，andthathashadexperienceofsuchfalling——thathas，inshort，amemoryofpast-dayraceexperiences，justasourwake-a-daypersonalityhasamemoryofourwake-a-dayexperiences。
ItwasatthisstageinmyreasoningthatIbegantoseethelight。Andquicklythelightburstuponmewithdazzlingbrightness，illuminatingandexplainingallthathadbeenweirdanduncannyandunnaturallyimpossibleinmydreamexperiences。Inmysleepitwasnotmywake-a-daypersonalitythattookchargeofme;
itwasanotheranddistinctpersonality，possessinganewandtotallydifferentfundofexperiences，and，tothepointofmydreaming，possessingmemoriesofthosetotallydifferentexperiences。
Whatwasthispersonality？Whenhadititselflivedawake-a-daylifeonthisplanetinordertocollectthisfundofstrangeexperiences？Thesewerequestionsthatmydreamsthemselvesanswered。Helivedinthelongago，whentheworldwasyoung，inthatperiodthatwecalltheMid-Pleistocene。Hefellfromthetreesbutdidnotstrikebottom。Hegibberedwithfearattheroaringofthelions。Hewaspursuedbybeastsofprey，struckatbydeadlysnakes。Hechatteredwithhiskindincouncil，andhereceivedroughusageatthehandsoftheFirePeopleinthedaythathefledbeforethem。
But，Ihearyouobjecting，whyisitthattheseracialmemoriesarenotoursaswell，seeingthatwehaveavagueother-personalitythatfallsthroughspacewhilewesleep？
AndImayanswerwithanotherquestion。Whyisatwo-headedcalf？Andmyownanswertothisisthatitisafreak。AndsoIansweryourquestion。Ihavethisother-personalityandthesecompleteracialmemoriesbecauseIamafreak。
Butletmebemoreexplicit。
Thecommonestracememorywehaveisthefalling-through-spacedream。Thisother-personalityisveryvague。Abouttheonlymemoryithasisthatoffalling。Butmanyofushavesharper，moredistinctother-personalities。Manyofushavetheflyingdream，thepursuing-monsterdream，colordreams，suffocationdreams，andthereptileandvermindreams。Inshort，whilethisother-personalityisvestigialinallofus，insomeofusitisalmostobliterated，whileinothersofusitismorepronounced。Someofushavestrongerandcompleterracememoriesthanothers。
Itisallaquestionofvaryingdegreeofpossessionoftheother-personality。Inmyself，thedegreeofpossessionisenormous。Myother-personalityisalmostequalinpowerwithmyownpersonality。AndinthismatterIam，asIsaid，afreak——afreakofheredity。
Idobelievethatitisthepossessionofthisother-personality——butnotsostrongaoneasmine——thathasinsomefewothersgivenrisetobeliefinpersonalreincarnationexperiences。Itisveryplausibletosuchpeople，amostconvincinghypothesis。
Whentheyhavevisionsofscenestheyhaveneverseenintheflesh，memoriesofactsandeventsdatingbackintime，thesimplestexplanationisthattheyhavelivedbefore。
Buttheymakethemistakeofignoringtheirownduality。Theydonotrecognizetheirother-personality。Theythinkitistheirownpersonality，thattheyhaveonlyonepersonality;andfromsuchapremisetheycanconcludeonlythattheyhavelivedpreviouslives。
Buttheyarewrong。Itisnotreincarnation。IhavevisionsofmyselfroamingthroughtheforestsoftheYoungerWorld;andyetitisnotmyselfthatIseebutonethatisonlyremotelyapartofme，asmyfatherandmygrandfatherarepartsofmelessremote。Thisother-selfofmineisanancestor，aprogenitorofmyprogenitorsintheearlylineofmyrace，himselftheprogenyofalinethatlongbeforehistimedevelopedfingersandtoesandclimbedupintothetrees。
Imustagain，attheriskofboring，repeatthatIam，inthisonething，tobeconsideredafreak。NotalonedoIpossessracialmemorytoanenormousextent，butI
possessthememoriesofoneparticularandfar-removedprogenitor。Andyet，whilethisismostunusual，thereisnothingover-remarkableaboutit。
Followmyreasoning。Aninstinctisaracialmemory。
Verygood。ThenyouandIandallofusreceivethesememoriesfromourfathersandmothers，astheyreceivedthemfromtheirfathersandmothers。Thereforetheremustbeamediumwherebythesememoriesaretransmittedfromgenerationtogeneration。ThismediumiswhatWeismanntermsthe"germplasm。"Itcarriesthememoriesofthewholeevolutionoftherace。Thesememoriesaredimandconfused，andmanyofthemarelost。Butsomestrainsofgermplasmcarryanexcessivefreightageofmemories——are，tobescientific，moreatavisticthanotherstrains;andsuchastrainismine。Iamafreakofheredity，anatavisticnightmare——callmewhatyouwill;buthereIam，realandalive，eatingthreeheartymealsaday，andwhatareyougoingtodoaboutit？
Andnow，beforeItakeupmytale，IwanttoanticipatethedoubtingThomasesofpsychology，whoarepronetoscoff，andwhowouldotherwisesurelysaythatthecoherenceofmydreamsisduetooverstudyandthesubconsciousprojectionofmyknowledgeofevolutionintomydreams。Inthefirstplace，Ihaveneverbeenazealousstudent。Igraduatedlastofmyclass。I
caredmoreforathletics，and——thereisnoreasonI
shouldnotconfessit——moreforbilliards。
Further，IhadnoknowledgeofevolutionuntilIwasatcollege，whereasinmychildhoodandyouthIhadalreadylivedinmydreamsallthedetailsofthatother，long-agolife。Iwillsay，however，thatthesedetailsweremixedandincoherentuntilIcametoknowthescienceofevolution。Evolutionwasthekey。Itgavetheexplanation，gavesanitytothepranksofthisatavisticbrainofminethat，modernandnormal，harkedbacktoapastsoremoteastobecontemporaneouswiththerawbeginningsofmankind。
ForinthispastIknowof，man，asweto-dayknowhim，didnotexist。ItwasintheperiodofhisbecomingthatImusthavelivedandhadmybeing。
CHAPTERIII
Thecommonestdreamofmyearlychildhoodwassomethinglikethis：ItseemedthatIwasverysmallandthatI
laycurledupinasortofnestoftwigsandboughs。
SometimesIwaslyingonmyback。InthispositionitseemedthatIspentmanyhours，watchingtheplayofsunlightonthefoliageandthestirringoftheleavesbythewind。Oftenthenestitselfmovedbackandforthwhenthewindwasstrong。
Butalways，whilesolyinginthenest，Iwasmasteredasoftremendousspacebeneathme。Ineversawit，I
neverpeeredovertheedgeofthenesttosee;butI
KNEWandfearedthatspacethatlurkedjustbeneathmeandthateverthreatenedmelikeamawofsomeall-devouringmonster。
Thisdream，inwhichIwasquiescentandwhichwasmorelikeaconditionthananexperienceofaction，I
dreamedveryofteninmyearlychildhood。Butsuddenly，therewouldrushintotheverymidstofitstrangeformsandferocioushappenings，thethunderandcrashingofstorm，orunfamiliarlandscapessuchasinmywake-a-daylifeIhadneverseen。Theresultwasconfusionandnightmare。Icouldcomprehendnothingofit。Therewasnologicofsequence。
Yousee，Ididnotdreamconsecutively。OnemomentI
wasaweebabeoftheYoungerWorldlyinginmytreenest;thenextmomentIwasagrownmanoftheYoungerWorldlockedincombatwiththehideousRed-Eye;andthenextmomentIwascreepingcarefullydowntothewater-holeintheheatoftheday。Events，yearsapartintheiroccurrenceintheYoungerWorld，occurredwithmewithinthespaceofseveralminutes，orseconds。
Itwasallajumble，butthisjumbleIshallnotinflictuponyou。ItwasnotuntilIwasayoungmanandhaddreamedmanythousandtimes，thateverythingstraightenedoutandbecameclearandplain。ThenitwasthatIgottheclewoftime，andwasabletopiecetogethereventsandactionsintheirproperorder。
ThuswasIabletoreconstructthevanishedYoungerWorldasitwasatthetimeIlivedinit——oratthetimemyother-selflivedinit。Thedistinctiondoesnotmatter;forI，too，themodernman，havegonebackandlivedthatearlylifeinthecompanyofmyother-self。
Foryourconvenience，sincethisistobenosociologicalscreed，Ishallframetogetherthedifferenteventsintoacomprehensivestory。Forthereisacertainthreadofcontinuityandhappeningthatrunsthroughallthedreams。ThereismyfriendshipwithLop-Ear，forinstance。Also，thereistheenmityofRed-Eye，andtheloveoftheSwiftOne。Takingitallinall，afairlycoherentandinterestingstoryI
amsureyouwillagree。
Idonotremembermuchofmymother。PossiblytheearliestrecollectionIhaveofher——andcertainlythesharpest——isthefollowing：ItseemedIwaslyingontheground。Iwassomewhatolderthanduringthenestdays，butstillhelpless。Irolledaboutinthedryleaves，playingwiththemandmakingcrooning，raspingnoisesinmythroat。ThesunshonewarmlyandIwashappy，andcomfortable。Iwasinalittleopenspace。
Aroundme，onallsides，werebushesandfern-likegrowths，andoverheadandallaboutwerethetrunksandbranchesofforesttrees。
SuddenlyIheardasound。Isatuprightandlistened。
Imadenomovement。Thelittlenoisesdieddowninmythroat，andIsatasonepetrified。Thesounddrewcloser。Itwaslikethegruntofapig。ThenIbegantohearthesoundscausedbythemovingofabodythroughthebrush。NextIsawthefernsagitatedbythepassageofthebody。Thenthefernsparted，andI
sawgleamingeyes，alongsnout，andwhitetusks。
Itwasawildboar。Hepeeredatmecuriously。Hegruntedonceortwiceandshiftedhisweightfromoneforelegtotheother，atthesametimemovinghisheadfromsidetosideandswayingtheferns。StillIsatasonepetrified，myeyesunblinkingasIstaredathim，feareatingatmyheart。
Itseemedthatthismovelessnessandsilenceonmypartwaswhatwasexpectedofme。Iwasnottocryoutinthefaceoffear。Itwasadictateofinstinct。AndsoIsatthereandwaitedforIknewnotwhat。Theboarthrustthefernsasideandsteppedintotheopen。
Thecuriositywentoutofhiseyes，andtheygleamedcruelly。Hetossedhisheadatmethreateninglyandadvancedastep。Thishedidagain，andyetagain。
ThenIscreamed……orshrieked——Icannotdescribeit，butitwasashrillandterriblecry。Anditseemsthatit，too，atthisstageoftheproceedings，wasthethingexpectedofme。Fromnotfarawaycameanansweringcry。Mysoundsseemedmomentarilytodisconcerttheboar，andwhilehehaltedandshiftedhisweightwithindecision，anapparitionburstuponus。
Shewaslikealargeorangutan，mymother，orlikeachimpanzee，andyet，insharpanddefiniteways，quitedifferent。Shewasheavierofbuildthanthey，andhadlesshair。Herarmswerenotsolong，andherlegswerestouter。Sheworenoclothes——onlyhernaturalhair。AndIcantellyoushewasafurywhenshewasexcited。
Andlikeafuryshedasheduponthescene。Shewasgrittingherteeth，makingfrightfulgrimaces，snarling，utteringsharpandcontinuouscriesthatsoundedlike"kh-ah！kh-ah！"Sosuddenandformidablewasherappearancethattheboarinvoluntarilybunchedhimselftogetheronthedefensiveandbristledassheswervedtowardhim。Thensheswervedtowardme。Shehadquitetakenthebreathoutofhim。Iknewjustwhattodointhatmomentoftimeshehadgained。I
leapedtomeether，catchingheraboutthewaistandholdingonhandandfoot——yes，bymyfeet;Icouldholdonbythemasreadilyasbymyhands。Icouldfeelinmytensegripthepullofthehairasherskinandhermusclesmovedbeneathwithherefforts。
AsIsay，Ileapedtomeether，andontheinstantsheleapedstraightupintotheair，catchinganoverhangingbranchwithherhands。Thenextinstant，withclashingtusks，theboardrovepastunderneath。
Hehadrecoveredfromhissurpriseandsprungforward，emittingasquealthatwasalmostatrumpeting。Atanyrateitwasacall，foritwasfollowedbytherushingofbodiesthroughthefernsandbrushfromalldirections。
Fromeverysidewildhogsdashedintotheopenspace——ascoreofthem。Butmymotherswungoverthetopofathicklimb，adozenfeetfromtheground，and，stillholdingontoher，weperchedthereinsafety。Shewasveryexcited。Shechatteredandscreamed，andscoldeddownatthebristling，tooth-gnashingcirclethathadgatheredbeneath。I，too，trembling，peereddownattheangrybeastsanddidmybesttoimitatemymother’scries。
Fromthedistancecamesimilarcries，onlypitcheddeeper，intoasortofroaringbass。Thesegrewmomentarilylouder，andsoonIsawhimapproaching，myfather——atleast，byalltheevidenceofthetimes，I
amdriventoconcludethathewasmyfather。
Hewasnotanextremelyprepossessingfather，asfathersgo。Heseemedhalfman，andhalfape，andyetnotape，andnotyetman。Ifailtodescribehim。
Thereisnothinglikehimto-dayontheearth，undertheearth，norintheearth。Hewasalargemaninhisday，andhemusthaveweighedallofahundredandthirtypounds。Hisfacewasbroadandflat，andtheeyebrowsover-hungtheeyes。Theeyesthemselvesweresmall，deep-set，andclosetogether。Hehadpracticallynonoseatall。Itwassquatandbroad，apparentlywith-outanybridge，whilethenostrilswereliketwoholesintheface，openingoutwardinsteadofdown。
Theforeheadslantedbackfromtheeyes，andthehairbeganrightattheeyesandranupoverthehead。Theheaditselfwaspreposterouslysmallandwassupportedonanequallypreposterous，thick，shortneck。
Therewasanelementaleconomyabouthisbody——aswasthereaboutallourbodies。Thechestwasdeep，itistrue，cavernouslydeep;buttherewerenofull-swellingmuscles，nowide-spreadingshoulders，noclean-limbedstraightness，nogeneroussymmetryofoutline。Itrepresentedstrength，thatbodyofmyfather’s，strengthwithoutbeauty;ferocious，primordialstrength，madetoclutchandgripeandrendanddestroy。
Hishipswerethin;andthelegs，leanandhairy，werecrookedandstringy-muscled。Infact，myfather’slegsweremorelikearms。Theyweretwistedandgnarly，andwithscarcelythesemblanceofthefullmeatycalfsuchasgracesyourlegandmine。Irememberhecouldnotwalkontheflatofhisfoot。Thiswasbecauseitwasaprehensilefoot，morelikeahandthanafoot。Thegreattoe，insteadofbeinginlinewiththeothertoes，opposedthem，likeathumb，anditsoppositiontotheothertoeswaswhatenabledhimtogetagripwithhisfoot。Thiswaswhyhecouldnotwalkontheflatofhisfoot。
Buthisappearancewasnomoreunusualthanthemannerofhiscoming，theretomymotherandmeasweperchedabovetheangrywildpigs。Hecamethroughthetrees，leapingfromlimbtolimbandfromtreetotree;andhecameswiftly。Icanseehimnow，inmywake-a-daylife，asIwritethis，swingingalongthroughthetrees，afour-handed，hairycreature，howlingwithrage，pausingnowandagaintobeathischestwithhisclenchedfist，leapingten-and-fifteen-footgaps，catchingabranchwithonehandandswingingonacrossanothergaptocatchwithhisotherhandandgoon，neverhesitating，neveratalossastohowtoproceedonhisarborealway。
AndasIwatchedhimIfeltinmyownbeing，inmyverymusclesthemselves，thesurgeandthrillofdesiretogoleapingfromboughtobough;andIfeltalsotheguaranteeofthelatentpowerinthatbeingandinthosemusclesofmine。Andwhynot？Littleboyswatchtheirfathersswingaxesandfelltrees，andfeelinthemselvesthatsomedaythey，too，willswingaxesandfelltrees。Andsowithme。Thelifethatwasinmewasconstitutedtodowhatmyfatherdid，anditwhisperedtomesecretlyandambitiouslyofaerialpathsandforestflights。
Atlastmyfatherjoinedus。Hewasextremelyangry。
Iremembertheout-thrustofhisprotrudingunderlipasheglareddownatthewildpigs。Hesnarledsomethinglikeadog，andIrememberthathiseye-teethwerelarge，likefangs，andthattheyimpressedmetremendously。
Hisconductservedonlythemoretoinfuriatethepigs。
Hebrokeofftwigsandsmallbranchesandflungthemdownuponourenemies。Heevenhungbyonehand，tantalizinglyjustbeyondreach，andmockedthemastheygnashedtheirtuskswithimpotentrage。Notcontentwiththis，hebrokeoffastoutbranch，and，holdingonwithonehandandfoot，jabbedtheinfuriatedbeastsinthesidesandwhackedthemacrosstheirnoses。Needlesstostate，mymotherandIenjoyedthesport。
Butonetiresofallgoodthings，andintheend，myfather，chucklingmaliciouslythewhile，ledthewayacrossthetrees。Nowitwasthatmyambitionsebbedaway，andIbecametimid，holdingtightlytomymotherassheclimbedandswungthroughspace。Irememberwhenthebranchbrokewithherweight。Shehadmadeawideleap，andwiththesnapofthewoodIwasoverwhelmedwiththesickeningconsciousnessoffallingthroughspace，thepairofus。Theforestandthesunshineontherustlingleavesvanishedfrommyeyes。
Ihadafadingglimpseofmyfatherabruptlyarrestinghisprogresstolook，andthenallwasblackness。
ThenextmomentIwasawake，inmysheetedbed，sweating，trembling，nauseated。Thewindowwasup，andacoolairwasblowingthroughtheroom。Thenight-lampwasburningcalmly。AndbecauseofthisI
takeitthatthewildpigsdidnotgetus，thatweneverfetchedbottom;elseIshouldnotbeherenow，athousandcenturiesafter，toremembertheevent。
Andnowputyourselfinmyplaceforamoment。Walkwithmeabitinmytenderchildhood，bedwithmeanightandimagineyourselfdreamingsuchincomprehensiblehorrors。RememberIwasaninexperiencedchild。Ihadneverseenawildboarinmylife。ForthatmatterIhadneverseenadomesticatedpig。ThenearestapproachtoonethatI
hadseenwasbreakfastbaconsizzlinginitsfat。Andyethere，realaslife，wildboarsdashedthroughmydreams，andI，withfantasticparents，swungthroughtheloftytree-spaces。
DoyouwonderthatIwasfrightenedandoppressedbymynightmare-riddennights？Iwasaccursed。And，worstofall，Iwasafraidtotell。Idonotknowwhy，exceptthatIhadafeelingofguilt，thoughIknewnobetterofwhatIwasguilty。Soitwas，throughlongyears，thatIsufferedinsilence，untilIcametoman’sestateandlearnedthewhyandwhereforeofmydreams。
CHAPTERIV
Thereisonepuzzlingthingabouttheseprehistoricmemoriesofmine。Itisthevaguenessofthetimeelement。Ilonotalwaysknowtheorderofevents;——orcanItell，betweensomeevents，whetherone，two，orfourorfiveyearshaveelapsed。Icanonlyroughlytellthepassageoftimebyjudgingthechangesintheappearanceandpursuitsofmyfellows。
Also，Icanapplythelogicofeventstothevarioushappenings。Forinstance，thereisnodoubtwhateverthatmymotherandIweretreedbythewildpigsandfledandfellinthedaysbeforeImadetheacquaintanceofLop-Ear，whobecamewhatImaycallmyboyhoodchum。AnditisjustasconclusivethatbetweenthesetwoperiodsImusthaveleftmymother。
IhavenomemoryofmyfatherthantheoneIhavegiven。Never，intheyearsthatfollowed，didhereappear。Andfrommyknowledgeofthetimes，theonlyexplanationpossibleliesinthatheperishedshortlyaftertheadventurewiththewildpigs。Thatitmusthavebeenanuntimelyend，thereisnodiscussion。Hewasinfullvigor，andonlysuddenandviolentdeathcouldhavetakenhimoff。ButIknownotthemannerofhisgoing——whetherhewasdrownedintheriver，orwasswallowedbyasnake，orwentintothestomachofoldSaber-Tooth，thetiger，isbeyondmyknowledge。
ForknowthatIrememberonlythethingsIsawmyself，withmyowneyes，inthoseprehistoricdays。Ifmymotherknewmyfather’send，shenevertoldme。ForthatmatterIdoubtifshehadavocabularyadequatetoconveysuchinformation。Perhaps，alltold，theFolkinthatdayhadavocabularyofthirtyorfortysounds。
IcallthemSOUNDS，ratherthanWORDS，becausesoundstheywereprimarily。Theyhadnofixedvalues，tobealteredbyadjectivesandadverbs。Theselatterweretoolsofspeechnotyetinvented。Insteadofqualifyingnounsorverbsbytheuseofadjectivesandadverbs，wequalifiedsoundsbyintonation，bychangesinquantityandpitch，byretardingandbyaccelerating。Thelengthoftimeemployedintheutteranceofaparticularsoundshadeditsmeaning。
Wehadnoconjugation。Onejudgedthetensebythecontext。Wetalkedonlyconcretethingsbecausewethoughtonlyconcretethings。Also，wedependedlargelyonpantomime。Thesimplestabstractionwaspracticallybeyondourthinking;andwhenonedidhappentothinkone，hewashardputtocommunicateittohisfellows。Therewerenosoundsforit。Hewaspressingbeyondthelimitsofhisvocabulary。Ifheinventedsoundsforit，hisfellowsdidnotunderstandthesounds。Thenitwasthathefellbackonpantomime，illustratingthethoughtwhereverpossibleandatthesametimerepeatingthenewsoundoverandoveragain。
Thuslanguagegrew。Bythefewsoundswepossessedwewereenabledtothinkashortdistancebeyondthosesounds;thencametheneedfornewsoundswherewithtoexpressthenewthought。Sometimes，however，wethoughttoolongadistanceinadvanceofoursounds，managedtoachieveabstractions（dimonesIgrant），whichwefailedutterlytomakeknowntootherfolk。Afterall，languagedidnotgrowfastinthatday。
Oh，believeme，wewereamazinglysimple。Butwedidknowalotthatisnotknownto-day。Wecouldtwitchourears，prickthemupandflattenthemdownatwill。
Andwecouldscratchbetweenourshoulderswithease。
Wecouldthrowstoneswithourfeet。Ihavedoneitmanyatime。Andforthatmatter，Icouldkeepmykneesstraight，bendforwardfromthehips，andtouch，notthetipsofmyfingers，butthepointsofmyelbows，totheground。Andasforbird-nesting——well，Ionlywishthetwentieth-centuryboycouldseeus。
Butwemadenocollectionsofeggs。Weatethem。
Iremember——butIout-runmystory。FirstletmetellofLop-Earandourfriendship。Veryearlyinmylife，Iseparatedfrommymother。Possiblythiswasbecause，afterthedeathofmyfather，shetooktoherselfasecondhusband。Ihavefewrecollectionsofhim，andtheyarenotofthebest。Hewasalightfellow。
Therewasnosoliditytohim。Hewastoovoluble。HisinfernalchatteringworriesmeevennowasIthinkofit。Hismindwastooinconsequentialtopermithimtopossesspurpose。Monkeysintheircagesalwaysremindmeofhim。Hewasmonkeyish。ThatisthebestdescriptionIcangiveofhim。
Hehatedmefromthefirst。AndIquicklylearnedtobeafraidofhimandhismaliciouspranks。WheneverhecameinsightIcreptclosetomymotherandclungtoher。ButIwasgrowingolderallthetime，anditwasinevitablethatIshouldfromtimetotimestrayfromher，andstrayfartherandfarther。AndtheseweretheopportunitiesthattheChattererwaitedfor。（Imayaswellexplainthatweborenonamesinthosedays;werenotknownbyanyname。ForthesakeofconvenienceI
havemyselfgivennamestothevariousFolkIwasmorecloselyincontactwith，andthe"Chatterer"isthemostfittingdescriptionIcanfindforthatpreciousstepfatherofmine。Asforme，Ihavenamedmyself"Big-Tooth。"Myeye-teethwerepronouncedlylarge。）
ButtoreturntotheChatterer。Hepersistentlyterrorizedme。Hewasalwayspinchingmeandcuffingme，andonoccasionhewasnotabovebitingme。Oftenmymotherinterfered，andthewayshemadehisfurflywasajoytosee。Buttheresultofallthiswasabeautifulandunendingfamilyquarrel，inwhichIwastheboneofcontention。
No，myhome-lifewasnothappy。IsmiletomyselfasI
writethephrase。Home-life！Home！Ihadnohomeinthemodernsenseoftheterm。Myhomewasanassociation，notahabitation。Ilivedinmymother’scare，notinahouse。Andmymotherlivedanywhere，solongaswhennightcameshewasabovetheground。
Mymotherwasold-fashioned。Shestillclungtohertrees。Itistrue，themoreprogressivemembersofourhordelivedinthecavesabovetheriver。Butmymotherwassuspiciousandunprogressive。Thetreesweregoodenoughforher。Ofcourse，wehadoneparticulartreeinwhichweusuallyroosted，thoughweoftenroostedinothertreeswhennightfallcaughtus。Inaconvenientforkwasasortofrudeplatformoftwigsandbranchesandcreepingthings。Itwasmorelikeahugebird-nestthananythingelse，thoughitwasathousandtimescruderintheweavingthananybird-nest。ButithadonefeaturethatIhaveneverseenattachedtoanybird-nest，namely，aroof。
Oh，notaroofsuchasmodernmanmakes！Noraroofsuchasismadebythelowestaboriginesofto-day。Itwasinfinitelymoreclumsythantheclumsiesthandiworkofman——ofmanasweknowhim。Itwasputtogetherinacasual，helter-skeltersortofway。Abovetheforkofthetreewhereonwerestedwasapileofdeadbranchesandbrush。FourorfiveadjacentforksheldwhatImaytermthevariousridge-poles。Theseweremerelystoutsticksaninchorsoindiameter。Onthemrestedthebrushandbranches。Theseseemedtohavebeentossedonalmostaimlessly。Therewasnoattemptatthatching。
AndImustconfessthattheroofleakedmiserablyinaheavyrain。
ButtheChatterer。Hemadehome-lifeaburdenforbothmymotherandme——andbyhome-lifeImean，nottheleakynestinthetree，butthegroup-lifeofthethreeofus。Hewasmostmaliciousinhispersecutionofme。
Thatwastheonepurposetowhichheheldsteadfastlyforlongerthanfiveminutes。Also，astimewentby，mymotherwaslesseagerinherdefenceofme。I
think，whatofthecontinuousrowsraisedbytheChatterer，thatImusthavebecomeanuisancetoher。
Atanyrate，thesituationwentfrombadtoworsesorapidlythatIshouldsoon，ofmyownvolition，havelefthome。Butthesatisfactionofperformingsoindependentanactwasdeniedme。BeforeIwasreadytogo，Iwasthrownout。AndImeanthisliterally。
TheopportunitycametotheChattereronedaywhenI
wasaloneinthenest。MymotherandtheChattererhadgoneawaytogethertowardtheblueberryswamp。Hemusthaveplannedthewholething，forIheardhimreturningalonethroughtheforest，roaringwithself-inducedrageashecame。Likeallthemenofourhorde，whentheywereangryorweretryingtomakethemselvesangry，hestoppednowandagaintohammeronhischestwithhisfist。
Irealizedthehelplessnessofmysituation，andcrouchedtremblinginthenest。TheChatterercamedirectlytothetree——Irememberitwasanoaktree——andbegantoclimbup。Andheneverceasedforamomentfromhisinfernalrow。AsIhavesaid，ourlanguagewasextremelymeagre，andhemusthavestraineditbythevarietyofwaysinwhichheinformedmeofhisundyinghatredofmeandofhisintentionthereandthentohaveitoutwithme。
Asheclimbedtothefork，Ifledoutthegreathorizontallimb。Hefollowedme，andoutIwent，fartherandfarther。AtlastIwasoutamongstthesmalltwigsandleaves。TheChattererwaseveracoward，andgreateralwaysthananyangerheeverworkedupwashiscaution。Hewasafraidtofollowmeoutamongsttheleavesandtwigs。Forthatmatter，hisgreaterweightwouldhavecrashedhimthroughthefoliagebeforehecouldhavegottome。
Butitwasnotnecessaryforhimtoreachme，andwellheknewit，thescoundrel！Withamalevolentexpressiononhisface，hisbeadyeyesgleamingwithcruelintelligence，hebeganteetering。Teetering！——andwithmeoutontheveryedgeofthebough，clutchingatthetwigsthatbrokecontinuallywithmyweight。Twentyfeetbeneathmewastheearth。
Wildlyandmore——wildlyheteetered，grinningatmehisgloatinghatred。Thencametheend。Allfourholdsbrokeatthesametime，andIfell，back-downward，lookingupathim，myhandsandfeetstillclutchingthebrokentwigs。Luckily，therewerenowildpigsunderme，andmyfallwasbrokenbythetoughandspringybushes。
Usually，myfallsdestroymydreams，thenervousshockbeingsufficienttobridgethethousandcenturiesinaninstantandhurlmewideawakeintomylittlebed，where，perchance，Iliesweatingandtremblingandhearthecuckooclockcallingthehourinthehall。ButthisdreamofmyleavinghomeIhavehadmanytimes，andneveryethaveIbeenawakenedbyit。AlwaysdoI
crash，shrieking，downthroughthebrushandfetchupwithabumpontheground。
Scratchedandbruisedandwhimpering，IlaywhereIhadfallen。Peeringupthroughthebushes，IcouldseetheChatterer。Hehadsetupademoniacalchantofjoyandwaskeepingtimetoitwithhisteetering。Iquicklyhushedmywhimpering。Iwasnolongerinthesafetyofthetrees，andIknewthedangerIranofbringinguponmyselfthehuntinganimalsbytooaudibleanexpressionofmygrief。
Iremember，asmysobsdieddown，thatIbecameinterestedinwatchingthestrangelight-effectsproducedbypartiallyopeningandclosingmytear-weteyelids。ThenIbegantoinvestigate，andfoundthatI
wasnotsoverybadlydamagedbymyfall。Ihadlostsomehairandhide，hereandthere;thesharpandjaggedendofabrokenbranchhadthrustfullyaninchintomyforearm;andmyrighthip，whichhadbornethebruntofmycontactwiththeground，wasachingintolerably。Butthese，afterall，wereonlypettyhurts。Noboneswerebroken，andinthosedaysthefleshofmanhadfinerhealingqualitiesthanithasto-day。Yetitwasaseverefall，forIlimpedwithmyinjuredhipforfullyaweekafterward。
Next，asIlayinthebushes，therecameuponmeafeelingofdesolation，aconsciousnessthatIwashomeless。ImadeupmymindnevertoreturntomymotherandtheChatterer。Iwouldgofarawaythroughtheterribleforest，andfindsometreeformyselfinwhichtoroost。Asforfood，Iknewwheretofindit。
ForthelastyearatleastIhadnotbeenbeholdentomymotherforfood。Allshehadfurnishedmewasprotectionandguidance。
Icrawledsoftlyoutthroughthebushes。OnceIlookedbackandsawtheChattererstillchantingandteetering。Itwasnotapleasantsight。Iknewprettywellhowtobecautious，andIwasexceedinglycarefulonthismyfirstjourneyintheworld。
IgavenothoughtastowhereIwasgoing。Ihadbutonepurpose，andthatwastogoawaybeyondthereachoftheChatterer。Iclimbedintothetreesandwanderedonamongstthemforhours，passingfromtreetotreeandnevertouchingtheground。ButIdidnotgoinanyparticulardirection，nordidItravelsteadily。Itwasmynature，asitwasthenatureofallmyfolk，tobeinconsequential。Besides，Iwasamerechild，andIstoppedagreatdealtoplaybytheway。
Theeventsthatbefellmeonmyleavinghomeareveryvagueinmymind。Mydreamsdonotcoverthem。Muchhasmyother-selfforgotten，andparticularlyatthisveryperiod。NorhaveIbeenabletoframeupthevariousdreamssoastobridgethegapbetweenmyleavingthehome-treeandmyarrivalatthecaves。
IrememberthatseveraltimesIcametoopenspaces。
TheseIcrossedingreattrepidation，descendingtothegroundandrunningatthetopofmyspeed。Irememberthatthereweredaysofrainanddaysofsunshine，sothatImusthavewanderedaloneforquiteatime。I
especiallydreamofmymiseryintherain，andofmysufferingsfromhungerandhowIappeasedit。Oneverystrongimpressionisofhuntinglittlelizardsontherockytopofanopenknoll。Theyranundertherocks，andmostofthemescaped;butoccasionallyIturnedoverastoneandcaughtone。Iwasfrightenedawayfromthisknollbysnakes。Theydidnotpursueme。
Theyweremerelybaskingonflatrocksinthesun。ButsuchwasmyinheritedfearofthemthatIfledasfastasiftheyhadbeenafterme。
ThenIgnawedbitterbarkfromyoungtrees。Iremembervaguelytheeatingofmanygreennuts，withsoftshellsandmilkykernels。AndIremembermostdistinctlysufferingfromastomach-ache。Itmayhavebeencausedbythegreennuts，andmaybebythelizards。Idonotknow。ButIdoknowthatIwasfortunateinnotbeingdevouredduringtheseveralhoursIwasknotteduponthegroundwiththecolic。
CHAPTERV
Myvisionofthescenecameabruptly，asIemergedfromtheforest。Ifoundmyselfontheedgeofalargeclearspace。Ononesideofthisspaceroseuphighbluffs。Ontheothersidewastheriver。Theearthbankransteeplydowntothewater，buthereandthere，inseveralplaces，whereatsometimeslidesofearthhadoccurred，therewererun-ways。Thesewerethedrinking-placesoftheFolkthatlivedinthecaves。
Andthiswasthemainabiding-placeoftheFolkthatI
hadchancedupon。Thiswas，Imaysay，bystretchingtheword，thevillage。MymotherandtheChattererandI，andafewothersimplebodies，werewhatmightbetermedsuburbanresidents。Wewerepartofthehorde，thoughwelivedadistanceawayfromit。Itwasonlyashortdistance，thoughithadtakenme，whatofmywandering，allofaweektoarrive。HadIcomedirectly，Icouldhavecoveredthetripinanhour。
Buttoreturn。FromtheedgeoftheforestIsawthecavesinthebluff，theopenspace，andtherun-waystothedrinking-places。AndintheopenspaceIsawmanyoftheFolk。Ihadbeenstraying，aloneandachild，foraweek。DuringthattimeIhadseennotoneofmykind。Ihadlivedinterroranddesolation。Andnow，atthesightofmykind，Iwasovercomewithgladness，andIranwildlytowardthem。
Thenitwasthatastrangethinghappened。SomeoneoftheFolksawmeandutteredawarningcry。Ontheinstant，cryingoutwithfearandpanic，theFolkfledaway。Leapingandscramblingovertherocks，theyplungedintothemouthsofthecavesanddisappeared……allbutone，alittlebaby，thathadbeendroppedintheexcitementclosetothebaseofthebluff。Hewaswailingdolefully。Hismotherdashedout;hesprangtomeetherandheldontightlyasshescrambledbackintothecave。
Iwasallalone。Thepopulousopenspacehadofasuddenbecomedeserted。Isatdownforlornlyandwhimpered。Icouldnotunderstand。WhyhadtheFolkrunawayfromme？Inlatertime，whenIcametoknowtheirways，Iwastolearn。WhentheysawmedashingoutoftheforestattopspeedtheyconcludedthatI
wasbeingpursuedbysomehuntinganimal。BymyunceremoniousapproachIhadstampededthem。
AsIsatandwatchedthecave-mouthsIbecameawarethattheFolkwerewatchingme。Soontheywerethrustingtheirheadsout。Alittlelatertheywerecallingbackandforthtooneanother。Inthehurryandconfusionithadhappenedthatallhadnotgainedtheirowncaves。Someoftheyoungoneshadsoughtrefugeinothercaves。Themothersdidnotcallforthembyname，becausethatwasaninventionwehadnotyetmade。Allwerenameless。Themothersutteredquerulous，anxiouscries，whichwererecognizedbytheyoungones。Thus，hadmymotherbeentherecallingtome，Ishouldhaverecognizedhervoiceamongstthevoicesofathousandmothers，andinthesamewaywouldshehaverecognizedmineamongstathousand。
Thiscallingbackandforthcontinuedforsometime，buttheyweretoocautioustocomeoutoftheircavesanddescendtotheground。Finallyonedidcome。Hewasdestinedtoplayalargepartinmylife，andforthatmatterhealreadyplayedalargepartinthelivesofallthemembersofthehorde。HeitwaswhomI
shallcallRed-Eyeinthepagesofthishistory——socalledbecauseofhisinflamedeyes，thelidsbeingalwaysred，and，bythepeculiareffecttheyproduced，seemingtoadvertisetheterriblesavageryofhim。Thecolorofhissoulwasred。
Hewasamonsterinallways。Physicallyhewasagiant。Hemusthaveweighedonehundredandseventypounds。HewasthelargestoneofourkindIeversaw。
NordidIeverseeoneoftheFirePeoplesolargeashe，noroneoftheTreePeople。Sometimes，wheninthenewspapersIhappenupondescriptionsofourmodernbruisersandprizefighters，Iwonderwhatchancethebestofthemwouldhavehadagainsthim。
Iamafraidnotmuchofachance。Withonegripofhisironfingersandapull，hecouldhavepluckedamuscle，sayabiceps，bytheroots，clearoutoftheirbodies。Aback-handed，looseblowofhisfistcouldhavesmashedtheirskullslikeegg-shells。Withasweepofhiswickedfeet（orhind-hands）hecouldhavedisembowelledthem。Atwistcouldhavebrokentheirnecks，andIknowthatwithasinglecrunchofhisjawshecouldhavepierced，atthesamemoment，thegreatveinofthethroatinfrontandthespinalmarrowattheback。
Hecouldspringtwentyfeethorizontallyfromasittingposition。Hewasabominablyhairy。Itwasamatterofpridewithustobenotveryhairy。Buthewascoveredwithhairallover，ontheinsideofthearmsaswellastheoutside，andeventheearsthemselves。Theonlyplacesonhimwherethehairdidnotgrowwerethesolesofhishandsandfeetandbeneathhiseyes。Hewasfrightfullyugly，hisferociousgrinningmouthandhugedown-hangingunder-lipbeingbutinharmonywithhisterribleeyes。
ThiswasRed-Eye。Andrightgingerlyhecreptoutorhiscaveanddescendedtotheground。Ignoringme，heproceededtoreconnoitre。Hebentforwardfromthehipsashewalked;andsofarforwarddidhebend，andsolongwerehisarms，thatwitheverystephetouchedtheknucklesofhishandstothegroundoneithersideofhim。Hewasawkwardinthesemi-erectpositionofwalkingthatheassumed，andhereallytouchedhisknucklestothegroundinordertobalancehimself。
Butoh，Itellyouhecouldrunonall-fours！Nowthiswassomethingatwhichwewereparticularlyawkward。
Furthermore，itwasarareindividualamonguswhobalancedhimselfwithhisknuckleswhenwalking。Suchanindividualwasanatavism，andRed-Eyewasanevengreateratavism。
Thatiswhathewas——anatavism。Wewereintheprocessofchangingourtree-lifetolifeontheground。Formanygenerationswehadbeengoingthroughthischange，andourbodiesandcarriagehadlikewisechanged。ButRed-Eyehadrevertedtothemoreprimitivetree-dwellingtype。Perforce，becausehewasborninourhordehestayedwithus;butinactualityhewasanatavismandhisplacewaselsewhere。
Verycircumspectandveryalert，hemovedhereandthereabouttheopenspace，peeringthroughthevistasamongthetreesandtryingtocatchaglimpseofthehuntinganimalthatallsuspectedhadpursuedme。Andwhilehedidthis，takingnonoticeofme，theFolkcrowdedatthecave-mouthsandwatched。
Atlastheevidentlydecidedthattherewasnodangerlurkingabout。Hewasreturningfromtheheadoftherun-way，fromwherehehadtakenapeepdownatthedrinking-place。Hiscoursebroughthimnear，butstillhedidnotnoticeme。Heproceededcasuallyonhiswayuntilabreastofme，andthen，withoutwarningandwithincredibleswiftness，hesmotemeabuffetonthehead。
IwasknockedbackwardfullyadozenfeetbeforeI
fetchedupagainsttheground，andIremember，half-stunned，evenastheblowwasstruck，hearingthewilduproarofcluckingandshriekinglaughterthatarosefromthecaves。Itwasagreatjoke——atleastinthatday;andrightheartilytheFolkappreciatedit。