Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-03

with his stone knife TO remove the
bark and shape the end TO receive his
! spearhead-
First he split it down the center for
four or FIVE inches, and then he cut
notches IN the surface upon either side
OF the split portion. Now ne carefully
unwrapped the rawhide that binds the
spearhead into his old haft, and for
want of water TO moisten it crammed
the whole unfragrant mass into his
mouth that it might be softened By
warmth and saliva.
For several minutes he busted him
self In shaping the point Of the new
shaft that it might exactly ft the tn
eQualittes in the shank Of the spear
head BY the time this was done the
rawhide had been sufficiently mois-
tened to permit him to wind it tightly
about the new shaft into which he had
set the spearhead
AS he worked he heard the noises of
the jungle about him. There were
many familiar voices, but more strange
ones. Not once had the cave bear
6RGhGAf k4CA ESJls LAS AAE&es4be AS0AA u A4AI
Neocene; nor 90, the saber toothed
tiger. He missed the believing OF the
bull Dos and the kissing and whistling
Of monster saurfan and amphibian.
To M it seemed q silent world.
Propped up against the bole OF the
tree before him grinned the hideous
head OF the man hunter. the only IA
miliar object in all the world about
him.
Presently he became aware that the
lesser apes were creeping warily closer
TO have q better look at him. He wait
ed silently until from the tail of his
eye he glinpsed one quite near, and
then in 9 low voice he spoke in the
language that his allies Of yesterday
had understood; and though ages had
elapsed since that long gone day, the
little monkey above him understood,
for the language Of the apes can never
change
why do you fear M, the son Of
NuT' asked the man. when has ne
ever harmed the ape peopleT"
THE hairless ones kill US with sharp
sticks that fly through the sir" replied
the monkey, "or with little sticks that
make a great noise that kill us from
afar. But you seem not to be Of these
We have never seen one like you until
now. Do you not wish to kill us?''
"why should II" replied M. at Is
better that we be friends All that /
wish of you is that you tell me which
OF the fruits that grow here be safe for
me TO eat and then direct me to the sea
beside which dwell the tribe of M, my
father"
The monkeys had gathered in force
by this time, seeing that the strange
white ape offered no harm to their fell
low, and when they learned his wants
they scampered about In all directions
10 gather nuts and fruits and berries
for him.
II Is true that soue OF them forgot
what they had intended doing before
the task was half completed, and end
ed by pulling one another's tails and
frolicking among the higher branches,
or else ate the fruit they had gone 10
gather for their new friend, but a few
there were with greater powers OF
concentration than their fellows, who
returned with fruit and berries and
caterpillars, all Of which M devoured
with the avidity Of the half famished
OF the whereabouts of the tribe Of
his father they could tell him nothing,
for they had never heard of such a
people, or of the great sea beside
which he told them that his people
dwelled.
His brea kfast finished and his spear
repaired, M set out toward the plain
10 bring down one OF the beasts he
had seen grazing there. for his stom-
ach called aloud for flesh Fruit and
bugs might be all right for children
and ape people, but a full grown man
must have meat, warm and red and
dripping
Closest 10 him as he emerged from
the jungle browsed a small herd of
zebra. They were directly up wind.
and between him and them were
patches Of tail grass and clunnps of
trees scattered about the surface of
the plain.
M wondered at the strange beasts.