How do you think the Cave-men will get fire?
Where can fire be found without making it?
If the Cave-men had seen a place where there were
natural fires, do you think they would remember where
it was?
What do you think happened to the wild animals during
the flood?
_The Council_
The cave was too damp to live in for several days after the flood.
The Cave-men camped at its mouth and waited for it to dry.
Not an animal came near them during that time.
Many animals had been drowned in the flood.
Many more had escaped to higher lands.
The Cave-men were safe for a time, but they had to live on bark and
roots.
They knew that the animals would return, so they began to make new
weapons.
It was well that they made them as soon as they did, for the animals
soon came back.
At first the animals kept away from the cave, but when they no longer
saw the fire, they began to come up nearer.
Then the Cave-men were frightened.
Some of them wanted to leave the cave and live as the Tree-dwellers had
lived.
But Strongarm wanted to stay in the cave and to keep all the people in
the clan together.
He knew that they could not keep together unless they had fire again.
So he talked with the bravest men, and they decided to hold a council.
Messengers were sent to call all the people to a meeting at the fire
clan’s cave.
By midday they had assembled.
They had not held many councils.
They were not used to obeying.
At first there was great confusion, and loud and boisterous talking.
Each had a plan of his own.
But soon they became more quiet and began to listen to the wisest men.
All eyes were soon turned toward an old man who had been their
mightiest hunter.
But now he was getting old, and his strength was beginning to fail.
The old man arose in the silence, and thus he spoke to his people:
[Illustration: “_The old man arose in the silence, and thus he spoke to
his people_”]
“Many years have we lived on these hillsides.
Our fathers lived here before us.
They lived many years without fire.
They lived, and they worked, and they waited.
The fire god came among them.
He gave them burning branches.
He told them they were his children.
He asked them to feed him daily.
We have always tried to obey him.
We have always fed him daily.
He has given us his protection.
But the water god was angry.
He came in all his fury.
He drove us from our dwelling.
He rushed upon our fire god.
He drove him far away.
Now the water god has gone.
Our fire god may return.
He may be near us now.
We must search till we surely find him.
We must bring him home again.”
For a moment the old man was silent.
He waited for some one to speak.
At last Strongarm asked the old man if he knew where the fire god now
lived.
To this the old man responded:
“That no one knows truly.