Do you know what kind of weapons the fire clan had at
this time?
Why would it not be safe for the fire clan to attack
Sabre-tooth with such weapons?
What kinds of weapons can you make of stones and sticks?
What do you think the fire clan will do to get rid of
Sabre-tooth?
Do you think that the fire clan ate three meals
together each day as we do?
_How the Fire Clan Got Rid of Sabre-tooth_
As soon as the sun was up, messengers started from the cave to ask the
people on the hills for help.
Nobody stopped to eat breakfast.
The Cave-men never ate breakfast together.
Each ate by himself such food as he could find.
Everybody was watching for Sabre-tooth.
Soon Sharpeyes saw him crawl into a thicket, where he laid himself down
and went to sleep.
[Illustration: _A flint point_]
Then the messengers returned with the people from the hills.
They went to the thicket to see Sabre-tooth, but they did not dare
attack him.
They had learned to put handles on their flint points, so as to make
good hunting-knives.
But the handles were short, and it was not safe to attack Sabre-tooth
with such weapons.
Their axes and hammers were larger and stronger, but they were afraid
to use them now.
While they were all wondering what to do, Strongarm went to look at
Sabre-tooth again.
[Illustration: _Opposite side of flint point_]
[Illustration: _A hunting-knife_]
The creature had feasted all night long and was sleeping heavily.
He was lying just under a strong spreading branch of an old oak.
When Strongarm noticed this his eyes brightened.
He motioned to an old man to come to him.
After a few minutes they went back to the other men.
All crowded around, for they felt sure that Strongarm had thought of a
new plan.
Then Strongarm showed the people what he wanted them to do.
Everybody was eager to help.
The women brought out all the skins that they had.
Strongarm laid the strongest skin aside and told the women to cut the
others into straps.
Some of the men began to work upon large flint points.
Others cut a tough branch of oak and made it into a large shaft.
When all had finished their work, they brought what they had to
Strongarm.
He selected the largest and strongest flint point and bound it to the
end of the shaft.
He folded the skin so as to make a bag.
[Illustration: “_Strongarm fastened the shaft to the spreading branch
of the oak_”]
Then he tied the skin bag to the shaft.
The boys brought stones to fill the bag and laid them on the ground.
Everything was now ready, so Strongarm took the new weapon over his
shoulder and climbed into the oak tree.
Others followed with stones and straps.
Strongarm quickly fastened the upper end of the shaft to the spreading
branch of the oak.
Then he carefully filled the skin bag with stones and let the weighted
spear hang over Sabre-tooth.
He motioned to the men to go back to the cave, and was soon all alone
with Sabre-tooth.
He did not stop to think what might happen.
He grasped his stone knife and began to cut the heavy strap.
When he had cut almost through the strap, it snapped.
[Illustration: _“The spear fell with its heavy weight”_]
The spear fell with its heavy weight and pinned Sabre-tooth to the
ground.
Sabre-tooth made one desperate effort to escape.
Then he lay perfectly still on the ground.
How thankful the Cave-men were!
They had one less creature to fear.
They now felt that they would be able to keep the cave for a home.