Scrag had spent the night in some wild orgy and had but recently returned home in the gray morning hours to where his parent awaited him. Judging from his appearance, he had experienced a lively time of it. His right eye was bunged and gashed1 so that he was obliged to depend entirely2 upon his left. One ear was torn and bleeding; it seemed to have been chewed. Father and son were conversing3 in low growls4. At the moment Scrag had the floor and was recounting the details of his night’s adventures.
“I was hiding in the grass; lying low, chest and stomach to the ground, just as you have always told me to do. I cannot account for it, but he must have seen me.”
“How about your tail?” his sire remarked[79] gruffly. “No doubt, that was waving in the air so that even a mole6 could see it.”
“Possibly,” Scrag admitted, slightly elevating the brows crowning his one good eye. “I may have been a trifle careless as to tail. I never thought about it. Well, anyhow, just as he passed me, I jumped.”
“Not exactly,” chuckled8 the other, applying himself diligently9 to his toilet. “True, I missed what I jumped at”—souse, souse—“but I did”—swish, swish—“hit something.”
“What?” Grun Waugh snorted impatiently.
“A rock,” snickered Scrag, all set and ready to run. “I struck it head-on and bumped my eye. For an instant I was half-stunned; but luckily for me I had senses enough left to remember something else you used to tell me.”
“What?” roared Grun Waugh.
“That I had four good legs and knew how to use them. Did I use them? I most certainly did. You would have been proud of your little Scraggy had you been there to see.”
“Whelp!” thundered the Cave Lion. “Never will I hear the last of this. You, son of the grandest and boldest among flesh-eaters, fled from——”
“The Woolly Rhinoceros10,” leered Scrag, screwing up his face. He stroked his chin bristles11 with his forepaw and looked thoughtfully at Grun[80] Waugh as he added mischievously12: “Now, who was it taught me to do that?”
The Cave Lion said nothing, but he was choking with suppressed rage, and his tail squirmed like a snake on a hot griddle. There were but two animals in the world that he had been known to run from, and the Woolly Rhinoceros was one of them.
He was brooding angrily over the matter and endeavoring to formulate13 some plausible14 excuse, when a burly figure suddenly thrust itself between him and the light. He looked up quickly and saw standing15 before him Crocut, his henchman and giant leader of the Hyena16 Pack.
Crocut settled down upon his haunches and grinned, first at Grun Waugh, then at Scrag. He always grinned and meant nothing in particular by it, for his face was simply built that way. It may be that, as head undertaker of the Vézère valley, it was his place to appear cheerful at all times, and because of that he either grinned or laughed. His grin was a death-mask and his laugh a voice from the grave.
Grun Waugh and Crocut had formed a partnership17 and were engaged in the meat business—wholesale and retail18. Crocut selected the live-stock and Grun Waugh did the killing19 or dangerous work. He received the freshest and choicest cuts as his share, after which Crocut cleared away the remains20 and disposed of the by-products. The giant Hyena employed members of his own family as scavengers for this latter purpose. It was also one of his important[81] duties to develop new business, and so he wandered about continually, searching for occasional horse, ox, bison or other animal that might have strayed from its herd21 and could be attacked to advantage. It then remained for him to convey such information to his royal master the Cave Lion. Crocut had scruples22 and conscientiously23 refrained from intruding24 upon the executive or killing end of the business. This was Grun Waugh’s prerogative25. The two got along finely by thus working in perfect harmony.
The leader of the Hyena Pack brought news, otherwise he would not have come. “I have much to tell you,” he began. “First, I will speak of the Woolly Rhinoceros.”
Grun Waugh scowled26 and wrinkled his muzzle27. Again that name; but, although at first greatly vexed28, he listened attentively30 as Crocut told of a man who had pushed a big rock over the cliff. This rock had barely missed crushing the Rhinoceros, also the Mammoth31, who was with him. Crocut had seen this with his own eyes.
“Escaped; always escaped,” growled32 the Cave Lion. “Had either the Rhinoceros or Mammoth been killed, it would have been different; but as it is, the tale annoys me.”
“I, too, have suffered in order that my lord might learn all,” whined33 the Hyena. “The Trog-boy was with the two animals. He threw a stone at me and bruised34 my jaw35. It is so sore that for several days I have been unable to crack even the smallest bone.”
[82]
Crocut grit36 his teeth, then winced37 with the pain which even this slight pressure caused him; then discovering that he was arousing no sympathy, he resumed: “Irritating, indeed; but please remember that it was a man who so nearly slew38 the Mammoth and Rhinoceros. Heretofore, none of the Trog-folk have dared attack the two animals.”
“Hagh!” Grun Waugh pricked39 up his ears. The tale now presented features of interest. “Not bad,” he said to Scrag, but the latter was already past hearing. He had curled himself up into a ball and was sound asleep.
“I have taken much interest in this man,” Crocut went on. “He has the odor of a hyena, and yet he appears to be a man. Possibly he is a relative; surely a friend. In addition to the first episode, he a second time attacked the Mammoth.”
Grun Waugh was now sitting up, his features expressing rapt attention. The moment of silence was broken by only Scrag’s resonant40 snores. Crocut described the scene at the slough41 and the Mammoth’s narrow escape. It was exasperating42 to think that the huge elephant had gotten off scot-free, and yet the narrative43 had its brighter side—the man’s share in it. He had done his part well, and the failure was no fault of his. Grun Waugh was beginning to feel kindly44 toward this Hyena Man. He purred softly and stretched his claws. Scrag snored peacefully on.
[83]
[84]
“I have not yet told all,” the giant bone-breaker resumed. “The Hyena Man—our friend, if I may be so bold to say it—is now doing even better. Already he has set upon the Ape Man.”
Grun Waugh licked his flewed lips as though anticipating a feast. His purring became a gargle. He gave an attentive29 ear to the balance of Crocut’s thrilling account to the accompaniment of Scrag’s nose-racking snores. The Ape Man meant Pic. All flesh-eaters called him that and hated him most cordially into the bargain. Grun Waugh hated him worst of all, for it was whispered among beasts that this Ape Man, when a boy, had dethroned their royal monarch46, the Lion. None dared speak such words aloud, but it was no secret that the puny47 Trog-boy had once driven Grun Waugh from the Grotto48 of Moustier and, having taken possession, had successfully resisted repeated attempts to dislodge him. It was only fair to explain that this same Trog-boy had not acted in an entirely honorable manner. He had employed fire as his chief means of defense49, and, of course, fire was a thing that no beast, however brave and strong, could contend with.
Crocut explained that the stranger had not attacked the Ape Man directly, but it would seem that he had done even better. He had robbed him of his whelp and was now fleeing southward. The whole valley was in an uproar50 over the matter. Already the Ape Man had hurried off in pursuit, riding upon his friend the Mammoth. If they caught the Hyena Man, it would go hard with him. It was unfortunate and Crocut wished that the[85] fugitive51 might in some way elude52 his pursuers, but the Mammoth was swift of foot, and there was no telling what might happen.
Grun Waugh leaped to his feet and gave vent5 to a thunderous roar. “And so the Mammoth and Ape Man are pursuing the Hyena Man,” he said fiercely. “Meddlers! We will follow and chastise53 them for interfering54.”
Crocut wilted55. He hung his head and looked about him as though seeking an avenue of escape. It began to look as though there might be some fighting, and, of course, he wanted to keep clear of that. “In your absence, I——” he began, and then held his peace, for Grun Waugh’s cold green eyes were directed full upon him.
“You will go with us, of course,” said the Cave Lion, biting his moustache and thereby56 displaying his huge canine57 teeth. “You began this, and now you must see it through. Come, Scrag.”
The prodigal58 son yawned and stretched his limbs; then with a wry59 face stood erect60 and wiped the sleep from his one good eye. Crocut groaned61 inwardly. Although a bone-breaker of the first order, he aimed at all times to be numbered among the spectators whenever there was fighting to be done. However, the Cave Lion had spoken, and there seemed no way out of it. And so, under his guidance, the three hurried down the river bank to the Dordogne, where they picked up the Mammoth’s trail and followed it across the stream to the southland beyond.
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1
gashed
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| v.划伤，割破( gash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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3
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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4
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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7
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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8
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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rhinoceros
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| n.犀牛 | |
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11
bristles
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| 短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 ) | |
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12
mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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13
formulate
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| v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述 | |
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14
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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15
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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16
hyena
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| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
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17
partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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18
retail
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| v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格 | |
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19
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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20
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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22
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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23
conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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24
intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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25
prerogative
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| n.特权 | |
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26
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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27
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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28
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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29
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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30
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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31
mammoth
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| n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的 | |
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32
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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33
whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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34
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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35
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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36
grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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37
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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39
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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40
resonant
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| adj.(声音)洪亮的，共鸣的 | |
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41
slough
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| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
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42
exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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43
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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44
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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45
hyenas
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| n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 ) | |
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46
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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47
puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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48
grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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49
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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50
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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51
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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52
elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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53
chastise
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| vt.责骂，严惩 | |
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54
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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55
wilted
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| （使）凋谢，枯萎( wilt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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57
canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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58
prodigal
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| adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的 | |
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59
wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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60
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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61
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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