Do you think that the Cave-men can live in their cave
when they go back?
What do you think they lost in the flood?
What did the Cave-men prize most of all?
Can you tell why they thought the fire was alive?
_What the Cave-men Lost in the Flood_
The Cave-men were anxious about their home, so they hastened to the
cave.
Their bare feet left clear tracks in the layer of fine mud.
But they were too anxious about the fire to think of such things as
tracks in the mud.
They did not know much about the fire or the flood, but they thought
that they both were alive.
They feared that the fire had been driven away.
Yet they hoped to find a few live coals that they could kindle into a
flame.
But not even a stone was left on the spot to mark the place where the
fireplace had been.
Everything had been swept away by the flood.
Firekeeper searched in vain for a spark.
When at last she knew that the fire was gone, she wrung her hands and
wailed.
The people joined in Firekeeper’s cries until Strongarm comforted them.
Strongarm hoped that their neighbors still had fire and sent Sharpeyes
to find out.
Then he crept through the mouth of the cave to see what had happened
there.
The water had gone down in the large cavern, but it was still rumbling
below.
The floor of the cave was wet and slippery and covered with fine mud.
Slowly Strongarm groped his way through the dark and damp cavern.
He wanted to find Sabre-tooth’s skin.
He moved his hands over the floor of the cave and into each corner and
crevice.
But no trace of the skin could he find.
Then the Cave-men hunted for their weapons, but they, too, had been
carried away.
The Cave-men had lost all they had in the flood.
When they saw Sharpeyes coming they went to meet him, but he brought
them no good news.
There was no more fire on the wooded hills.
There was sorrow everywhere.