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journeying； and impossible to do it from day to day。 Most of it is hazy
and indistinct； though here and there I have vivid recollections of things
that happened。
Especially do I remember the hunger we endured on the mountains
between Long Lake and Far Lake； and the calf we caught sleeping in the
thicket。 Also； there are the Tree People who dwelt in the forest between
Long Lake and the mountains。 It was they who chased us into the
mountains and compelled us to travel on to Far Lake。
First； after we left the river； we worked toward the west till we came to
a small stream that flowed through marshlands。 Here we turned away
toward the north； skirting the marshes and after several days arriving at
what I have called Long Lake。 We spent some time around its upper end；
where we found food in plenty； and then； one day； in the forest； we ran
foul of the Tree People。 These creatures were ferocious apes； nothing
more。 And yet they were not so different from us。 They were more
hairy； it is true； their legs were a trifle more twisted and gnarly； their eyes
a bit smaller； their necks a bit thicker and shorter； and their nostrils slightly
more like orifices in a sunken surface； but they had no hair on their faces
and on the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet； and they made
sounds similar to ours with somewhat similar meanings。 After all； the
Tree People and the Folk were not so unlike。
I found him first； a little withered； dried…up old fellow； wrinkled…faced
and bleary…eyed and tottery。 He was legitimate prey。 In our world there
was no sympathy between the kinds； and he was not our kind。 He was a
Tree…Man； and he was very old。 He was sitting at the foot of a tree
evidently his tree； for we could see the tattered nest in the branches； in
which he slept at night。
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I pointed him out to Lop…Ear； and we made a rush for him。 He
started to climb； but was too slow。 I caught him by the leg and dragged
him back。 Then we had fun。 We pinched him； pulled his hair； tweaked
his ears； and poked twigs into him； and all the while we laughed with
streaming eyes。 His futile anger was most absurd。 He was a comical
sight； striving to fan into flame the cold ashes of his youth； to resurrect his
strength dead and gone through the oozing of the yearsmaking woful
faces in place of the ferocious ones he intended； grinding his worn teeth
together； beating his meagre chest with feeble fists。
Also； he had a cough； and he gasped and hacked and spluttered
prodigiously。 Every time he tried to climb the tree we pulled him back；
until at last he surrendered to his weakness and did no more than sit and
weep。 And Lop…Ear and I sat with him； our arms around each other； and
laughed at his wretchedness。
From weeping he went to whining； and from whining to wailing； until
at last he achieved a scream。 This alarmed us； but the more we tried to
make him cease； the louder he screamed。 And then； from not far away in
the forest； came a 〃Goek！ Goek！〃 to our ears。 To this there were answering
cries； several of them； and from very far off we could hear a big； bass
〃Goek！ Goek！ Goek！〃 Also； the 〃Whoo…whoo ！〃 call was rising in the
forest all around us。
Then came the chase。 It seemed it never would end。 They raced us
through the trees； the whole tribe of them； and nearly caught us。 We were
forced to take to the ground； and here we had the advantage； for they were
truly the Tree People； and while they out…climbed us we out…footed them
on the ground。 We broke away toward the north； the tribe howling on
our track。 Across the open spaces we gained； and in the brush they caught
up with us； and more than once it was nip and tuck。 And as the chase
continued； we realized that we were not their kind； either； and that the
bonds between us were anything but sympathetic。
They ran us for hours。 The forest seemed interminable。 We kept to
the glades as much as possible； but they always ended in more thick forest。
Sometimes we thought we had escaped； and sat down to rest； but always；
before we could recover our breath； we would hear the hateful 〃Whoo…
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whoo！〃 cries and the terrible 〃Goek！ Goek！ Goek！〃 This latter sometimes
terminated in a savage 〃Ha ha ha ha haaaaa！！！〃
And in this fashion were we hunted through the forest by the
exasperated Tree People。 At last； by mid…afternoon； the slopes began
rising higher and higher and the trees were becoming smaller。 Then we
came out on the grassy flanks of the mountains。 Here was where we could
make time； and here the Tree People gave up and returned to their forest。
The mountains were bleak and inhospitable； and three times that
afternoon we tried to regain the woods。 But the Tree People were lying
in wait； and they drove us back。 Lop…Ear and I slept that night in a dwarf
tree； no larger than a bush。 Here was no security； and we would have
been easy prey for any hunting animal that chanced along。
In the morning； what of our new…gained respect for the Tree People；
we faced into the mountains。 That we had no definite plan； or even idea；
I am confident。 We were merely driven on by the danger we had escaped。
Of our wanderings through the mountains I have only misty memories。
We were in that bleak region many days； and we suffered much； especially
from fear； it was all so new and strange。 Also； we suffered from the cold；
and later from hunger。
Itwas a desolate land of rocks and foaming streams and clattering
cataracts。 We climbed and descended mighty canyons and gorges； and
ever； from every view point； there spread out before us； in all directions；
range upon range； the unceasing mountains。 We slept at night in holes and
crevices； and on one cold night we perched on top a slender pinnacle of
rock that was almost like a tree。
And then； at last； one hot midday； dizzy with hunger； we gained the
divide。 From this high backbone of earth； to the north； across the
diminishing； down…falling ranges； we caught a glimpse of a far lake。 The
sun shone upon it； and about it were open； level grass…lands； while to the
eastward we saw the dark line of a wide…stretching forest。
We were two days in gaining the lake； and we were weak with hunger；
but on its shore； sleeping snugly in a thicket； we found a part…grown calf。
It gave us much trouble； for we knew no other way to kill than with our
hands。 When we had gorged our fill； we carried the remainder of the
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meat to the eastward forest and hid it in a tree。 We never returned to that
tree； for the shore of the stream that drained Far Lake was packed thick
with salmon that had come up from the sea to spawn。
Westward from the lake stretched the grass…lands； and here were
multitudes of bison and wild cattle。 Also were there many packs of wild
dogs； and as there were no trees it was not a safe place for us。 We
followed north along the stream for days。 Then； and for what reason I do
not know； we abruptly left the stream and swung to the east； and then to
the southeast； through a great forest。 I shall not bore you with our
journey。 I but indicate it to show how we finally arrived at the Fire
People's country。
We came out upon the river； but we did not know it for our river。 We
had been lost so long that we had come to accept the condition of being
lost as habitual。 As I look back I see clearly how our lives and destinies
are shaped by the merest chance。 We did not know it was our riverthere
was no way of telling； and if