Wulli took a long deep breath. He turned to the Mammoth3. “The Trog-man is dead. Why should we stay here?”
“Yes, why?” Hairi glanced at Pic. “And you—what will you do now?”
The Ape Boy looked thoughtfully at the sky.
“I scarcely know. Now that my father is dead, I am quite alone. I have lived much alone but while he was alive I did not feel as now—without any friends at all.”
“None at all? What of us?” The Mammoth appeared much grieved.
“I meant men-friends—my own people,” Pic replied. “They say—my father said so too—that men and animals can never be friends. I do not see why it should be so. Except for my father, I have known none that please me more than do you and Wulli.”
[80]
“Why not join us?” said the Mammoth. “We are two; with you we would be three. I wish it could be so.”
“And the Rhinoceros4—what does he say?”
Wulli’s eyes twinkled. He bobbed his head up and down until his ears rattled5.
“We are three,” he grunted6. “Good; let us be off. We can be of no more help to this dead Trog-man.”
“Agh!” Pic looked down and scratched his head. “What is to be done with the body? I cannot leave it like that—so cold and alone.”
“But not for long,” Wulli snorted with brutal7 frankness. “The Cave Beasts will attend to it. Every hyena8 in the neighborhood will hear the news by nightfall.”
“Yes, I know.” Pic was quite familiar with this method of caring for the dead. Hyenas9 were prompt and obliging undertakers. The Cave Lion might prefer food of his own killing10; but hyenas were not so particular. Pic shuddered11, as in his mind’s eye he saw these unclean scavengers rending12 and devouring13 the lifeless body.
“The foul14 brutes15 must not touch him,” he said determinedly16. “This grotto17 is now my father’s home and in it he shall lie where no flesh-eater can reach him.”
“What do you intend to do?” Wulli asked.
[81]
“Wait and see.” The Ape Boy turned, re-entered the grotto and kneeled upon the floor. The Mammoth and Rhinoceros crowded closer into the low entrance and looked wonderingly on. They heard the sound of chopping—of flint-ax striking into hard dirt. In the dim light they could barely see the figure of the Ape Boy hard at work upon the cave-floor. Chop, chop,—the ax rose and fell, stopping at intervals18 as he laid it aside and scooped19 out the loosened earth with his hands. Long and earnestly he toiled20 while his friends stood guard at the cave-mouth and awaited developments. The work went on until a long shallow trench21 and piles of dirt bore witness to Pic’s untiring energy. Finally the chopping ceased and he came crawling to the light on his hands and knees.
Hairi and Wulli shifted to make room as he emerged and seated himself in the sunlight to rest and fill his lungs with fresh outside air.
“Why do you make that hole?” the Mammoth inquired.
“To bury the body,” Pic replied. “Once covered, the hyenas will find it hard work to dig him out.”
“Umph!” said Wulli. “I thought you were hunting for something in the cave-floor.”
“Whoow!” Pic’s eyes opened wide. “My father told me of something before he died. I had nigh forgotten.”
[82]
“What?”
“He was grateful because I helped him. He spoke22 of treasure that might some day be mine.”
“Treasure? What does that mean?” Hairi asked.
“Something nice. Something I would like to have.” The Ape Boy clapped his hands together. He grinned like a pleased child.
“What is it?”
“Umm—now what is it?” Pic screwed up his face much perplexed23. “Agh! I do not know. My father did not say nor did I think to ask.”
“How unfortunate,” said the Mammoth. “Where did he say this treasure was? We can go and find it.”
“In a cave on a mountain side, buried in the floor near the entrance beneath a stone: that is what he said.”
“What cave; what mountain?”
Pic looked blank and threw up his hands, palms outwards24.
“I am sure I do not know,” he replied helplessly. “I was not thinking of such things just then and forgot to ask.”
“Ooch, ooch,” Wulli snorted. “You should have known that we would like to see it. Is it something to eat!”
“My father did not tell me what is was.”
[83]
“What would you think?”
“I don’t know.”
“Nuts or fruits possibly,” Hairi suggested. “Squirrels and other animals sometimes bury them in the ground.”
“The flesh-eaters often act like that. I have seen them,” Wulli declared. “But they hide only bones. The treasure may be bones; who knows?”
“Not bones,” said the Ape Boy with a smile. “Bones without meat would be of no value to a cave-man. As for fruits and nuts, they would rot away. It is something else.”
“What, then?”
“I have no idea.”
The two animals raged inwardly, now that their curiosity was aroused and found nothing to satisfy it. Even Pic felt a new interest in the treasure, of which his father had spoken. He had not thought much about it at the time. His interest in the sick man had precluded25 all else. Now he inwardly rebuked26 himself for his lack of foresight27. He might have learned the nature of the treasure and its place of concealment28; but now his father was dead and the secret had died with him.
“Then the only thing to be done is to go and look for it,” the Mammoth suggested. “There are many caves. We can search them all.”
“The stone will help us,” said Pic, his hopes rising.[84] “A stone in the floor marks the spot. I know of many caves; this one, mine upon the Rock and others; but none of them have stones in the floor. I am certain of that. When I have finished my task, we can determine what is to be done.”
So saying, he re-entered the grotto. The grave was dug—not a large or deep one, but with none but a flint tool he had done his best and could do no more. Laying aside his ax, he seized the dead man by the shoulders and dragged him into the shallow trench. The latter was scarcely large enough to contain the body; but he bent29 the limbs to fit and then began covering it with the loose earth lying about. Hairi and Wulli took no part except as interested spectators. They saw Pic pause in his work to place several stones for protection about the head. They saw him lay his ear to the dead man’s chest to make certain that no spark of life remained. They heard his surprised exclamation30 as his cheek encountered a hard object concealed31 beneath the bear-skin which now served as the dead man’s shroud32. And as they gazed and wondered, the Ape Boy fumbled33 under the shaggy covering and drew forth34 something flat and leaf-shaped, much like his own hand in size and form.
“What is it?” whispered the Mammoth as Pic arose to his feet and glided35 to the cave-mouth. But the Ape Boy could find no words for reply. His[85] eyes were fixed36 on that which he held in his hand; a flint-blade of lustrous37 grey, wonderfully formed, beautifully chipped on both sides—a specimen38 of workmanship unsurpassed. To his trained eyes, the marvellous blade was a sight to endure forever.
“Umph! Only a rock,” said the Rhinoceros as he peered over the other’s shoulder. But Pic was too engrossed39 in his discovery to hear. His face glowed with excitement as he held the prized flint before his companion’s eyes so that they might see and admire.
“Is it not wonderful?” he asked. “So beautifully flaked40 and chipped. See how broad and shapely it is; pointed41, double-edged and the same on both sides. Agh, my poor little turtle-backs! Never can I make another after having seen this wonder of wonders. How was it done? I would give my life to know him who made it and learn the secret of its making.”
“A rock,” sneered42 the Mammoth; then as the Ape Boy shrank from him offended, he said in less scornful tones: “Yes, it is quite remarkable43; but neither Wulli nor I have use for such things. Come; let us go.”
“Where?” Pic had not once taken his eyes off of the great flint.
“North. Who knows but that the cave and its treasure might not be there?”
“You will see Trog-men too.” Wulli added. “I[86] know because I have seen them. They spend most of their time cracking rocks along the river banks.”
“Is it so?” Pic glanced tenderly at the great blade and pondered. Perhaps these northern flint-workers knew the secret of double-flaking and fine chipping like that shown in his newly-discovered prize. Such knowledge were well worth the seeking. His skill in making turtle-backs—flaked round on one surface; flat and smooth on the other—now seemed to him but feeble and wasted effort. As for the gem44 he held, it was the tiny chipping along the margins45 which brought them to such keen straight edges, that aroused his greatest interest and speculation46. The tiny chipping! That was the substance of the whole matter. To learn how such work was done, was a possibility too strong to resist.
“I will go with you;” this with the air of one whose determination is made, once and for all. “One who lives with beasts must cease to be a man,” he said to himself. “It is broken—the last tie which bound me to men.” He glanced at the half-buried corpse47; then realizing that his task was uncompleted, he re-entered the grotto and once more began piling the dirt over the body. When the grave was half-filled he stopped.
“I have stolen my father’s last flint. He shall have mine instead;” and, forthwith, his own ax lay beside the dead man.
[87]
“Why do you do that?” inquired the Mammoth who had been quick to see.
“He might need it,” Pic answered. “At least his shadow might need it.”
“Shadow? Oomp! He would need food even more.”
“True enough,” Pic admitted. “I had not thought of that.” He crawled on hands and knees to the rear of the cave and groped about in the darkness. In a few moments he returned carrying a long ill-smelling object—the almost putrid48 limb of a wild-ox. Its odor sickened him. “Poor stuff but it must do for the want of something better,” was his only comment as the two animals shrank back in disgust. He dropped it into the grave. There seemed nothing more to be done, so he covered all with dirt, stamping it firmly down and piling more rocks over the head and feet. This finished, he crawled to the cave-mouth and emerged into the open with eyes blinking at the blinding light.
“All is done,” he said. “And now for the country of the flint-workers.”
“And the cave with its buried treasure. Do not forget that,” Wulli added. “It must be found.”
Nothing more was said. The trio descended49 the slope and followed the winding50 base of the hill along the same route as that by which Hairi and[88] Wulli had first come. As they reached the bend which veered51 their course to the north, the Ape Boy who was last in line, stopped short. As the others plodded52 on, he turned for a last look at the distant grotto. His right hand gripping the prized flint-blade was raised high above his head in farewell to the dead Cave Man.
“Rest while your shadow guards you,” he said in a solemn voice. “The night has come; your day is ended.” The uplifted arm fell to his side. He faced about and in a moment had vanished around the bend, leaving the last tie which bound him to humanity lying buried in the floor of the cave.
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1
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
transpiring
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的现在分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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3
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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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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6
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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7
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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hyena
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| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
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hyenas
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| n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 ) | |
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10
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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11
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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12
rending
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| v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破 | |
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13
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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14
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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15
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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16
determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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17
grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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18
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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19
scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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20
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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21
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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22
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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23
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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24
outwards
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| adj.外面的，公开的，向外的；adv.向外；n.外形 | |
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25
precluded
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| v.阻止( preclude的过去式和过去分词 )；排除；妨碍；使…行不通 | |
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26
rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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28
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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29
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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30
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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31
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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32
shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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33
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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34
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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35
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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36
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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37
lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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38
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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39
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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40
flaked
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| 精疲力竭的，失去知觉的，睡去的 | |
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41
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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42
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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44
gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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45
margins
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| 边( margin的名词复数 )； 利润； 页边空白； 差数 | |
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46
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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47
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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48
putrid
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| adj.腐臭的；有毒的；已腐烂的；卑劣的 | |
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49
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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50
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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51
veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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52
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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