“Make way for the Storm Wind, all ye who run, swim or fly. To the Vézère, ye creatures of mountain, forest and plain. Seek shelter where even the storm wrath3 may not enter. Woe4 to ye who neither hear nor heed5!”
But all heard and heeded6 and hastened southward while behind them, across hill and dale, over forest and meadow, colossal8 mountains of ice glided9 irresistibly10 onward11. The Vézère welcomed the swarms12 of fugitives13 within its sanctuary14 even as the north wind howled at its gates and all western[16] Europe lay prostrate15 beneath the shadows of the glaciers16.
Wherever peaceable creatures thrive, savage17 beasts will always be found preying18 upon them; and, sad to relate, the Vézère Valley—haven of refuge for all animals—had its share of those who continually annoyed the true lovers of peace. The Panther, Lynx and Wolf being the first on the ground, found abundant food—for the easy hunting; so easy, that in time, the fact became known throughout the world.
News travels fast among beast-folk; particularly if it is good news. The flesh-eaters of Africa finally became interested in the glowing accounts of opportunities awaiting them to the north and decided19 to have a look for themselves.
To reach France, it was necessary for them to cross the Mediterranean20 Sea or make a long journey around it. However, everything was conveniently arranged for them to make the trip without wetting their feet and that, too, by the shortest possible route.
As it chanced, Sicily and Italy were connected to each other and to Africa, thus forming a land bridge over which those who chose could enter southern Europe. The Lion, Leopard21, Hyena22 and others were not long in crossing. Soon they arrived in France where an unpleasant surprise[17] awaited them. The climate was cold and raw. Ice and snow confronted them at every turn. Being southern animals, they found themselves unprepared for such a change. Were it not for the hunting, every one of them would have turned about and gone back home.
But the hunting was excellent; so they stayed. Game was far more plentiful23 than reports had led them to believe. That being so, the rest soon took care of itself. Their fur and fuzz thickened to shaggy hair and underwool. Caves and rock-shelters gave further protection against the cold. The newcomers finally threw off all home ties and became full-fledged French citizens with new names: the Cave Lion, Cave Leopard and Cave Hyena.
For a time their frequent raids on the cloven-footed animals passed almost unnoticed. The latter had not yet learned to appreciate their danger. Those who fell victims were too dead to tell of their experiences while others fortunate enough to escape, thanked their lucky stars and thought no more about it. They made no concerted effort to protect themselves; and so, for a time, their enemies did about as they pleased.
Game was so plentiful that the cave-beasts grew careless. They threw off the cloak of secrecy25 and roamed through the Vézère Valley in the full light[18] of day. In the heavy snow-drifts, the Moo Hooes were at a disadvantage as compared with their enemies whose broad soft feet enabled them to travel swiftly over the frozen crust. Seeing themselves threatened with destruction, the grass-eaters finally gathered together to find some way of protecting or ridding themselves of their fierce enemies. This was the occasion of their meeting with the Mammoth26 and Rhinoceros27.
The Cave Lion, being the strongest and fiercest of the flesh-eaters, was the cloven-footed animals’ most dreaded28 foe29. Every grass-eater in the valley had now learned to fear Grun Waugh above all creatures. As the Bison spoke30 his name, Hairi and Wulli looked inquiringly at each other. The former heaved a deep sigh and nodded gravely. The eyes of the Rhinoceros glistened31 and his lips set tightly together in a thin straight line.
“If you will, so do I,” he said to the Mammoth. “Our main task will be to make him stand and fight. He would never dare face both of us.”
“Drive him from his den32, if you cannot kill him,” the Bison interrupted. “We do not ask more.” He suspected that Wulli was seeking an excuse to avoid the danger.
“Where is his den?” asked the Rhinoceros. “How can we find him?”
“No trouble about that. His home is high upon[19] the big Rock.” The Bison nodded in the direction of a rugged33 promontory34, the Rock of Moustier which jutted35 far into the valley, almost to the Vézère River. Its bare walls rose precipitously in limestone36 layers or ledges37 piled one upon another, to a broad table-like summit capped with snow. Facing the river, a steep slope composed of crumbled38 rock, formed the sole means of reaching the upper level from the valley beneath.
“Grun Waugh lives mid-way to the top,” the Bison explained. “The ground slopes up to his den. The den is his home.”
“Let us be off,” urged Wulli. “While we talk and do nothing, the Cave Lion may leave his hole and then we will be hard put to find him.”
To this Hairi agreed after a moment’s thought, so the pair marched off across the snow-covered meadow to the river. On reaching it, Hairi held back for an instant, then took a deep breath and set one foot upon the ice to test its strength. It creaked and trembled. The Mammoth retreated a step, raised his head and looked about him. The Rhinoceros hesitated not a moment but strode on ahead at his best gait. The air was cold, the ice proportionately thick and so he crossed in safety. Not until he reached the other bank and was pausing to catch his breath, did he realize that he was[20] alone. With a surprised snort he turned and looked behind him.
About half-way between the two banks, Hairi was crawling along at a snail’s pace. His eyes never left the ice on which he trod. His footsteps rivalled the Panther’s stealthy tread. Had he been walking a tight-rope he could not have glided onward with more infinite pains.
To the Mammoth who had a healthy horror of mire39, ice or any other support that threatened to give way beneath his weight, this was the most terrifying part of the whole adventure. To help matters, he held his breath and kept the fewest possible number of feet on the ice at any one time, all of which required his undivided attention. Meanwhile the Rhinoceros could only stand and stare, even after Hairi’s journey finally ended in a frantic40 leap to solid ground with half a dozen lumbering41 hops42 added to make sure.
“Stir yourself, Wulli,” bellowed43 a voice. “Why do you stand like a dumb Moo Hoo when there is work to be done?”
The Rhinoceros aroused himself and whirled about, too confused to express his thoughts with fitting words. He trotted44 behind his friend, sullen45 and thoughtful; and so in silence they approached the great Rock which thrust itself into the valley[21] from the more distant heights like a rugged outpost placed there to guard the river and lowlands.
“This is the place,” said the Mammoth. “Now we must look around for Grun Waugh.”
“We can look when we get there,” Wulli sniffed46 and he scrambled47 boldly up the slope. Hairi followed. No more words were wasted. Their breath was needed for the steep climb. Higher and higher rose their huge bodies until they neared the foot of a more abrupt48 although short ascent49; the middle terrace. This latter was topped by a broad rock-platform which projected from the towering back-wall. A few more steps and the Mammoth’s eyes were above the level of this platform.
“Take care, no noise,” he whispered suddenly. “Grun Waugh is not here. Another has taken his place.”
“Who?”
“Not so loud, I tell you. It is one of the Cave-folk; the kind that has no tail and walks around on its hind7 legs.”
“Bear?”
“No, no; come and see for yourself.”
The Rhinoceros advanced several steps which brought his eyes above the level of the ledge24. He took a long, careful look, then turned to the Mammoth and said in a low voice trembling with disappointment:
[22]
“Trog-man; oo-oo-oo! Grun Waugh gone and all we have done goes for nothing. What shall we do?”
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1
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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5
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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6
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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9
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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10
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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14
sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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15
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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16
glaciers
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| 冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 ) | |
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17
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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18
preying
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| v.掠食( prey的现在分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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19
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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hyena
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| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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24
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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25
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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mammoth
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| n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的 | |
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rhinoceros
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| n.犀牛 | |
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28
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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29
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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30
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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31
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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33
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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35
jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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36
limestone
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| n.石灰石 | |
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ledges
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| n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台 | |
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38
crumbled
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| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
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39
mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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40
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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41
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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42
hops
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| 跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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43
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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44
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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45
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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46
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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47
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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48
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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49
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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