SHE WOLF
She Wolf was the name of a woman. She lived in a cave of her own, and
supported herself by hunting and fishing. Men had wooed her, but had been
so ferociously rejected, that they had been content thereafter to leave
her strictly alone.
She could run, swim, climb, use the club or jab the spear nearly as well
as a man, and it was said that she lived apart because she was barren
and ashamed. She was long of arm and flank, deep-breasted, deep-bellied,
hairy and powerful. No Man cast his eyes upon this woman, who was more
man than himself, and desired her. He hung about her cave, as a bear
hangs about a tree full of honey—and bees. He stuck bright feathers
in his hair and smiled and nodded whenever she cast a glance in his
direction. He scratched upon bone scenes in which she figured as a
heroine and he left them in places where she would find them. He grew
sick with lust and forgot all about Strong Hand and the vengeance which
was ripe. He made attempts to enter into conversation with her, only to
be cut short.
[Illustration]
The less his suit prospered the more keenly did he wage it. But when he
found that ordinary methods were of no avail, he turned to that old
friend of his, cunning, and thought out a plan.
Early upon a morning before the sun had risen, he took his bow and
arrows, and went in silence and sat down before the mouth of She Wolf’s
cave. Then he laid his arrows on the ground and began to twang the string
of his bow. At the first twang, She Wolf woke twitching; at the second,
she crawled to a place where she could see what was going on outside the
cave and yet not be seen.
When she saw that it was only No Man, playing the fool, with a bent stick
and a stretched skin, she was disgusted.
No Man knew perfectly well that he was being watched, and so the next
time he twanged the bow, he closed his eyes and rolled his head, as if
pleasure unutterable possessed him. Then She Wolf’s curiosity was aroused
and she came out of the cave, and in the white mist of the morning she
seemed wonderfully alluring to No Man, so that little shivers ran thro’
him.
But he twanged his string and pretended that he found it more interesting
than the woman.
“This is something that I do not understand,” said She Wolf to herself.
And aloud, “What are you doing, No Man?” It was the first time she had
ever spoken to him.
“This string,” said No Man, without looking up, “is telling me how to get
all the things that I wish; the beasts of the forest, the blood of my
enemies, and the woman I desire.”
“It is telling you lies, then,” said She Wolf. “For altho’ it may go on
talking ’till night, it will not tell you how to get me.”
“Listen,” said No Man, and he twanged the string.
“Well?” said She Wolf.
“It has just told me how to get you,” said No Man.
“Then it is still lying,” said She Wolf. “For I do not wish to go to your
cave and I am stronger than you.”
“That is as it may be,” said No Man, and he twanged his string, and
closed his eyes, and rocked his head.
“Let me see it,” said She Wolf.
“You do not understand it,” said No Man, “and it would turn against you.”
“I am not afraid,” said She Wolf, but she did not speak the whole truth.
“In my hands,” said No Man, “this thing is stronger than any man or
beast, but in another’s hands it is only a bent stick and a length of
stretched hide.”
“I do not believe you,” said She Wolf, but she half believed.
“Let us hunt together,” said No Man, “and I will show you.”
She Wolf went into the cave and came out with her club and her spear and
her flint knife.
“I am ready,” she said.
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