"It must be smooth or it will hurt my hand," he said to the boys who
stood watching him.
"In the old days," he said, rubbing away, "the cave men had nothing to
fight with but a club. Before they had even that," he went on,
grinning, "they fought with nails and teeth, or with a stick or a stone
snatched from the ground." Then laughing loud, he added, "No wonder
that in the old days people lived in trees, and ran if they saw a
wildcat."
"I should be sorry if you had nothing to hunt with but a club, father,"
said Pineknot, making a long face. "We should go hungry oftener than
we do now."
After they had gone into the cave, the boys began to play with the
baby. In fun they pushed her into the room behind the one they lived
in. She cried out, because she was scared at the darkness.
"How loud her voice sounds in there," said Thorn.
"What is the rest of the cave like, father?" asked Pineknot. "Is it
very big?"
"Yes, it goes far back into the hill," said Strongarm. "I have never
been to the end of it, myself."
"Show it to us, father," said Thorn; and he ran to get a burning knot.
Strongarm took the torch and led the way into the next room. He held
the torch up high. The light looked small and dim in the darkness of
the big room. They went on and came to room after room and to long
halls. Some places were narrow and low, so that they had to crawl on
hands and knees to get through; and all the walls and floors were wet
and slippery.
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