Three men all carrying heavy burdens were ascending6 the causeway to the cave-threshold, while above, stood a fourth, waiting as though to receive them. He was a large man of mighty7 chest and shoulders and yet neither overfleshed nor muscle-bound but fibred and corded from neck to heel like a fight-trained lion. The newcomers were big strong men but he who stood upon the ledge seemed a giant beside them. They greeted him with a certain deference8 that marked the larger man as a person of more than ordinary importance. One by one they cast down their burdens upon the rock-platform and squatted9 beside them. These consisted of several bison hides, bundles of faggots, a leg of venison and several large stones about the size of a man’s head.
[21]
“Three Men Were Ascending to the Cave-Threshold”
[22]
After a hasty survey of the various articles, the giant’s interest centered upon the stones. He selected one of them and held it in the palm of his left hand. This was done seemingly without effort and but for his swelling10 biceps, one might have thought the stone a trifling11 weight. Using a large pebble12 as a maul, he struck the stone a resounding13 blow, separating it in two halves as cleanly as though cut with a knife. The newly fractured surfaces were wax-like in appearance and of a lustrous14 grey color. The giant smiled broadly and nodded to the three men. He seemed much pleased with the stones and well he might be, for they were the finest of beeswax flint. All about him were strewn chips of similar material; small piles of blanks and partly finished flakes15. Near the cave-entrance lay many much used mauls and hammerstones of various shapes and sizes; the tools of the flint artisan.
One of the three men coughed noisily. Having delivered their goods, the trio were growing impatient. They wanted their pay.
The giant set aside the flint lump and hammerstone and brought out from the grotto a small hide full of finished flints, all nicely shaped, edged and pointed16. They were of various shapes and sizes, each one designed for a special purpose; small tools for scraping hides, knife-blades, dart-heads and axes. The three men bent17 over them expressing by word and gesture their appreciation18 of every piece. One of them gathered up the four corners[23] of the hide and swung it over his shoulder; then the trio descended19 the causeway to the valley below.
The giant weapon-maker20 was preparing to turn again to the flint-lumps when he caught sight of two figures making their way up the causeway toward him. The giant smiled upon one of them—a boy—then gazed inquiringly at the other. The pair reached the ledge. As the unknown stepped upon the rock-platform, he bent low and laid down his ax with much ceremony, then stood erect21 with both hands raised high above his head. Strangers with good intentions always behaved themselves in this manner—presenting themselves unarmed and at the mercy of them they visited. The boy came quickly forward and for several minutes spoke22 in low tones to the giant, glancing from time to time at his companion. The flint-worker’s face fairly beamed as he listened.
The youth explained the circumstances of his meeting with the stranger, enlarging upon his own narrow escape from the panther and how his benefactor23 had so nearly paid the penalty of death for the part he had chosen to play.
“Good,” said the giant when the boy had finished. “Friends should ever help each other.” With that, he picked up the stranger’s ax and presented it to him, then led his guest to a fire which burned near by.
The Muskman’s brain was in a whirl. He had accomplished24 wonders in a single day. So long had he known naught25 but hostility26 from man and beast[24] that this peaceful reaction from danger and privation, to say nothing of his recent mauling, nigh overwhelmed him. He passed one hand across his forehead where the blood had not yet dried.
“The boy tells me that you leaped upon the panther from the sky,” the giant now said. “Men do not leap from the sky however. How and why did you come here?”
Gonch felt the other’s piercing gaze directed full upon him. The deep-set eyes seemed to be searching his inmost soul.
“Mine is a restless spirit,” he replied. “It has led me through many lands to see strange and wonderful things. I have been told of the Mammoth27 Man, maker of the finest flint-blades the world has ever seen. Are you he?”
“I am called many names,” said the stalwart flint-worker with a twinkle of his deep-set eyes.
“To some, I am known as Pic, the Weapon Maker; to others—but no matter. One name is as good as another. Yes, I am the Mammoth Man.” He folded his arms across his broad chest and even as he looked kindly28 upon his visitor, his eyes as much as said: “Can it be possible that mere29 curiosity has brought you here—to see me?”
Gonch did not notice the look of those eyes; he was watching the man himself. Such evidence of physical health and strength, he had never before observed in a human being. “I can see now why they call him the Mammoth Man,” he thought to himself. “He is a giant among men as is the Hairy[25] Elephant among beasts.” But all he said was:
“I helped your boy. Perhaps for that you can look upon me as a friend.”
Pic’s eyes softened30. He looked down at the ground and replied sadly: “Yes, you have done me a great service. Since his mother died, he is all I have.”
“Why not get another?” the Muskman suggested. “Women are plentiful31 enough. A man like you could have any or all of them.”
Pic scowled32 and raised his hand in protest. “She is gone,” he muttered hoarsely33. “None can take her place; and of this you need say no more.”
Gonch was taken aback by this peculiar34 display of sentiment. “One woman?” he sniffed35: “Ridiculous. The man is a giant but a simpleton for all that. All giants are simpletons.” But now that Pic had declared himself upon the subject of women, Gonch prated36 of the southland; its fine climate, abundance of game and the strong men who lived there; painting the picture in such brilliant colors that he almost believed in it himself. But in spite of his eloquence37, Pic remained unmoved. Whether he believed or not, he showed no more than ordinary interest. There was a note of sarcasm38 in the flint-worker’s voice as he made brief comment: “If this is so, why do you come here?” to which in spite of his eloquence Gonch could find no ready answer.
The latter took another tack39. “Men say that you are a mighty hunter,” he began; “and that you[26] scorn such small game as the ox and bison, reserving your great strength for the Lion and Hairy Elephant.”
Pic’s nostrils40 swelled41. There was a sinister42 glitter in his eyes as he directed them full upon his guest. “Who says that?” he growled43. Then without waiting for a reply, he added: “Men who are wise, do not speak to me of the Lion and Mammoth in the same breath.”
“Agh, I forgot,” muttered Gonch completely abashed44. “It was of another they spoke. You are a flint-worker who neither hunts nor fights.”
Pic scowled at this impudence45 and was on the point of replying angrily, when he checked himself as a thought suddenly occurred to him.
“Hunt? fight?” he said sternly: “It is well that you reminded me. You are a stranger here and should know our rules. Listen to them and heed46 them well for it is quite necessary that they be most carefully observed.”
“Rules?” Gonch awaited curious. His host now spoke in a tone of authority and yet he had mentioned “ours.” A chieftain would have said “my rules.”
“There are three of these rules,” said Pic in his most impressive manner, holding up three fingers by way of illustration. “The first concerns our young men. It is not permitted for them to do any unnecessary quarrelling among themselves. If they should quarrel, it must be a fair fight and for some good reason.”
[27]
“He must be joking,” thought Gonch. “No fighting? Whoever heard of such a thing?”
“Our second rule is equally simple,” Pic went on. “Also equally important. There must be no waste of game. The valley abounds47 with animals of every kind and they are easily caught. We wish these conditions to continue. Without beef or venison, we would starve and so these animals should neither be alarmed nor driven away. Promiscuous48 slaughter49 is therefore forbidden. Men must not kill more than they need.”
Gonch gasped50 as the true meaning of this astounding51 utterance52 forced itself upon him. The motive53 that inspired it and its sound logic54 were too lofty for his understanding or appreciation. Had Gonch not been born hungry and hungered all his life, he might have understood, for his wits were as keen as those of a fox. But killing55 was his primary instinct. His every thought and act sprang from his unquenchable blood-lust. “Simple rules indeed and a simpleton who says them,” he sneered56 under his breath. “This Pic has gone crazy with his flint-working. No wonder his people put him here by himself where he can do no harm.”
But outwardly, Gonch appeared only an attentive57 listener. “Good,” he said, “I understand. These are your hetman’s orders.”
“Yes, our hetman’s orders.”
“And this hetman, who is he?” asked Gonch.
“You will know him in good time,” was the reply. “You will also learn that he is a man not to[28] be trifled with. And now for our third rule, an important one which you must be sure to remember. Of all animals, the Mammoth and Woolly Rhinoceros58 are absolutely immune. No man shall hunt, harm or annoy them in any way. The penalty is death.”
This was too much. The Muskman laughed like a hyena59 in Pic’s face. “Death no doubt,” he sneered. “Those two animals can take good care of themselves. But you have forgotten one; there is a third.”
“What?” demanded Pic, his eyes blazing.
“The Cave Lion. No fool would——” and then Gonch wished he could have swallowed his words before he said them, for the giant flint-worker’s face fairly flamed with terrible rage. He thrust his great head forward and bared his teeth in the Muskman’s face. He extended his right arm. Gonch felt the huge hand closing like a vise upon his wrist. An ounce more pressure would have meant crushed and broken bones. He cowered60 sick with terror as the threatening jaws61 opened wide as though to tear his throat.
“Meddler!” roared Pic. “Kill the Cave Lion if you can or let him kill you; either way, it would be good riddance; but the other two beasts are my friends—friends, do you hear? If you dare disobey my commands and harm one of them, I will tear you to pieces with my teeth and hands.”
He released his grip upon the Muskman as he said this. His face relapsed into its former calmness[29] and the storm-wrath rolled away as quickly as it had come.
“You saved my boy,” he said in a voice so gentle that Gonch stared at him amazed at the sudden change. “I am not ungrateful and will treat you as a friend, provided you do not break our rules. Be wise; observe them and all will be well. Enough; we now understand each other.” With that he turned away and busied himself with the fire. So completely had his former tranquillity62 returned, that when the boy Kutnar who had been dozing63 all this time, awakened64, his father and guest appeared on such good terms, he had not the slightest suspicion of anything unusual having happened while he slept.
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1
truncated
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| adj.切去顶端的，缩短了的，被删节的v.截面的( truncate的过去式和过去分词 )；截头的；缩短了的；截去顶端或末端 | |
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limestone
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| n.石灰石 | |
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jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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5
grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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7
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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8
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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9
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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10
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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11
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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12
pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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13
resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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14
lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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15
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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16
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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17
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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18
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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19
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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20
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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21
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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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
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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24
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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25
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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27
mammoth
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| n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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30
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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31
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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32
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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35
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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36
prated
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| v.（古时用语）唠叨，啰唆( prate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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38
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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39
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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40
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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41
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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42
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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43
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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44
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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46
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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47
abounds
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的第三人称单数 ) | |
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48
promiscuous
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| adj.杂乱的，随便的 | |
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49
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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50
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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51
astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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52
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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53
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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54
logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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55
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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56
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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58
rhinoceros
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| n.犀牛 | |
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59
hyena
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| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
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60
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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61
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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62
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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63
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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64
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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