my leaving home I have had many times； and never yet have I been
awakened by it。 Always do I crash； shrieking； down through the brush
and fetch up with a bump on the ground。
Scratched and bruised and whimpering； I lay where I had fallen。
Peering up through the bushes； I could see the Chatterer。 He had set up a
demoniacal chant of joy and was keeping time to it with his teetering。 I
quickly hushed my whimpering。 I was no longer in the safety of the trees；
and I knew the danger I ran of bringing upon myself the hunting animals
by too audible an expression of my grief。
I remember； as my sobs died down； that I became interested in
watching the strange light…effects produced by partially opening and
closing my tear…wet eyelids。 Then I began to investigate； and found that I
was not so very badly damaged by my fall。 I had lost some hair and hide；
here and there； the sharp and jagged end of a broken branch had thrust
fully an inch into my forearm； and my right hip； which had borne the brunt
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of my contact with the ground； was aching intolerably。 But these； after
all； were only petty hurts。 No bones were broken； and in those days the
flesh of man had finer healing qualities than it has to…day。 Yet it was a
severe fall； for I limped with my injured hip for fully a week afterward。
Next； as I lay in the bushes； there came upon me a feeling of
desolation； a consciousness that I was homeless。 I made up my mind
never to return to my mother and the Chatterer。 I would go far away
through the terrible forest； and find some tree for myself in which to roost。
As for food； I knew where to find it。 For the last year at least I had not
been beholden to my mother for food。 All she had furnished me was
protection and guidance。
I crawled softly out through the bushes。 Once I looked back and saw
the Chatterer still chanting and teetering。 It was not a pleasant sight。 I
knew pretty well how to be cautious； and I was exceedingly careful on this
my first journey in the world。
I gave no thought as to where I was going。 I had but one purpose；
and that was to go away beyond the reach of the Chatterer。 I climbed
into the trees and wandered on amongst them for hours； passing from tree
to tree and never touching the ground。 But I did not go in any particular
direction； nor did I travel steadily。 It was my nature； as it was the nature of
all my folk； to be inconsequential。 Besides； I was a mere child； and I
stopped a great deal to play by the way。
The events that befell me on my leaving home are very vague in my
mind。 My dreams do not cover them。 Much has my other…self forgotten；
and particularly at this very period。 Nor have I been able to frame up the
various dreams so as to bridge the gap between my leaving the home…tree
and my arrival at the caves。
I remember that several times I came to open spaces。 These I crossed
in great trepidation； descending to the ground and running at the top of my
speed。 I remember that there were days of rain and days of sunshine； so
that I must have wandered alone for quite a time。 I especially dream of
my misery in the rain； and of my sufferings from hunger and how I
appeased it。 One very strong impression is of hunting little lizards on the
rocky top of an open knoll。 They ran under the rocks； and most of them
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Before Adam
escaped； but occasionally I turned over a stone and caught one。 I was
frightened away from this knoll by snakes。 They did not pursue me。
They were merely basking on flat rocks in the sun。 But such was my
inherited fear of them that I fled as fast as if they had been after me。
Then I gnawed bitter bark from young trees。 I remember vaguely the
eating of many green nuts； with soft shells and milky kernels。 And I
remember most distinctly suffering from a stomach…ache。 It may have
been caused by the green nuts； and maybe by the lizards。 I do not know。
But I do know that I was fortunate in not being devoured during the
several hours I was knotted up on the ground with the colic。
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CHAPTER V
My vision of the scene came abruptly； as I emerged from the forest。
I found myself on the edge of a large clear space。 On one side of this
space rose up high bluffs。 On the other side was the river。 The earth
bank ran steeply down to the water； but here and there； in several places；
where at some time slides of earth had occurred； there were run…ways。
These were the drinking…places of the Folk that lived in the caves。
And this was the main abiding…place of the Folk that I had chanced
upon。 This was； I may say； by stretching the word； the village。 My
mother and the Chatterer and I； and a few other simple bodies； were what
might be termed suburban residents。 We were part of the horde； though
we lived a distance away from it。 It was only a short distance； though it
had taken me； what of my wandering； all of a week to arrive。 Had I come
directly； I could have covered the trip in an hour。
But to return。 From the edge of the forest I saw the caves in the bluff；
the open space； and the run…ways to the drinking…places。 And in the open
space I saw many of the Folk。 I had been straying； alone and a child； for
a week。 During that time I had seen not one of my kind。 I had lived in
terror and desolation。 And now； at the sight of my kind； I was overcome
with gladness； and I ran wildly toward them。
Then it was that a strange thing happened。 Some one of the Folk saw
me and uttered a warning cry。 On the instant； crying out with fear and
panic； the Folk fled away。 Leaping and scrambling over the rocks； they
plunged into the mouths of the caves and disappeared。。。all but one； a little
baby； that had been dropped in the excitement close to the base of the bluff。
He was wailing dolefully。 His mother dashed out； he sprang to meet her
and held on tightly as she scrambled back into the cave。
I was all alone。 The populous open space had of a sudden become
deserted。 I sat down forlornly and whimpered。 I could not understand。
Why had the Folk run away from me？ In later time； when I came to know
their ways； I was to learn。 When they saw me dashing out of the forest at
top speed they concluded that I was being pursued by some hunting
animal。 By my unceremonious approach I had stampeded them。
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As I sat and watched the cave…mouths I became aware that the Folk
were watching me。 Soon they were thrusting their heads out。 A little
later they were calling back and forth to one another。 In the hurry and
confusion it had happened that all had not gained their own caves。 Some
of the young ones had sought refuge in other caves。 The mothers did not
call for them by name； because that was an invention we had not yet made。
All were nameless。 The mothers uttered querulous； anxious cries； which
were recognized by the young ones。 Thus； had my mother been there
calling to me； I should have recognized her voice amongst the voices of a
thousand mothers； and in the same way would she have recognized mine
amongst a thousand。
This calling back and forth continued for some time； but they were too
cautious to come out of their caves and descend to the ground。 Finally one
did come。 He was destined to play a large part in my life； and for that
matter he already played a large part in the lives of all the members of the