Cave Twins-Lucy Fitch Perkins

0:00Save with digital deals at Vons and Albertsons. This week at Vons and Albertsons, Ginny O, 93% lean ground turkey is 399 per pound, sold in a 3 pound tray with digital coupon limit two packages. And a 1 pound package of strawberries is 199 with digital coupon. Plus Kellogg's giant size cereal, 22.6 to 29.5 ounces, selected varieties are 299 each, with digital coupon limit three. Hurry in! Visit Vons or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. With the Amix Gold Card, you can earn 4 times points at U.S. Supermarkets. Because the best nights in start with the grocery run that makes it happen. And when meals come with 4 times points, moments around the table add up to even more. Apply today and find out your welcome offer which could be as high as 100,000 points. Learn more at americanexpress.com slash explore-gold. Turn and point cap apply.

1:28Introduction of the Cave Twins This is a Librevox Recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. The Cave Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins. Introduction. Prehistoric Man This is a story about things that happened ages and ages ago. Before any of us were born, or our great-great-grandfathers either for that matter. It was so very long ago that there were no houses or farms, or roads from one place to another, and there was not a single city, or a town, or even village in the whole earth. There was just a great round world, all fresh in you and covered with growing things. And there were wild beasts of all kinds in the forest. And fishes of all kinds in the seas, and all sorts of birds, and flying creatures in the air.

2:32Besides all these wonderful things in the new new world, there was man. He was quite new too. He didn't know much of anything about the world. All that he really knew was that there was a world, and that he was in it. And that there were fierce wild animals in it too, which would kill him and eat him if he didn't kill them first. And he knew very well that he was not as swift as the deer, or as big as the elephant, or as strong as the lion, or as fierce as the tiger, and it seemed to him as if he hadn't much chance to stay alive at all, in a world so full of terrible creatures who wanted to eat him up. But this prehistoric man was very brave, and he could do two things which none of the other creatures could do. He could laugh and he could think. One day he sat down on a rock and took his head between his hands and thought and thought, and by and by, he lifted up his head and sat to his wife, for of course he had a wife.

3:33I have it, my dear. If you're not as strong as the wild beasts, we must be a great deal more clever. So he got right above the rock and set about being clever, and so did his wife. They were so clever that they hid themselves in trees and rocks where the wild beasts could not find them, and they found out the secret of fire. The other creatures could not find out the secret of fire to save their lives, and they were dreadfully afraid of it. Then the man and his wife made weapons out of stones, and bones, and they made dishes out of mud, and though these things weren't a bit like our weapons or add dishes, they caught a long very well with them for many years. In the earliest times of all, the woman hunted and trapped the wild creatures, and fished all by herself, but by and by she began to let the man do the hunting and bring home the game while she stayed in the cave house and kept the earth. Fire bright and took care of the children. She cooked the food that he brought home, and she made needles out of bones and sewed

4:37the skins together for clothes for her husband and the children and herself. After a long time, she began to plant seeds of the wild things that she found were good to eat and to raise food out of the ground. All these things they did, and many more that had never been done before, and because they were so much more clever than all the beasts of the forest, the prehistoric man and his prehistoric wife lived a long time in a little peace and more happiness than you might at first think possible. They taught their children all the clever things they had taught out, and these children, when they grew up, taught them to their children, and this went on for hundreds and thousands of years. Each generation learned new things and taught them to the next. Until now, we have houses and churches and villages and cities dotted over the whole earth, and there are roads going from everywhere to everywhere else. There are railroads and steam cars and telegraph and telephone lines and printing presses so that today, everybody knows more about

5:42the very ends of the earth than prehistoric man could possibly know about what was happening 50 miles away from him. And all these things we have today because the prehistoric man and the prehistoric women did their part bravely and well when the earth was young. This is a story about that far off time. If you don't believe it's true, every word of it just get out your atlas and find the places on the map. There are everyone of them there. End of introduction Chapter number one of the cave twins. This is a Libra Voster Codding. While Libra Voster Codding's are in the public domain, for more information or to volunteer please visit LibraVogs.org. The cave twins by Lucy Fitzpikens. Chapter one. Granny and the twins.

6:45One bright morning of early spring, longer ages ago, the sun peered through the trees on the edge of a vast forest and sent a shaft of yellow sunlight right into the mouth of the great dark cave. In front of the cave, a bright fire was burning and an arock beside it sat an old woman. In her lap was a piece of birch bark and on the bark was a heap of acorns. She was roasting them in the ashes and eating them. At a right hand with an easy reach, there was a pile of broken sticks and tree branches and every now and then the old woman put on fresh wood and stared the cold to keep the fire bright. A little plot ran from the front of the cave where the old woman sat down the stoping hillside to a blue river and the morning sun shining across it made a bridge of dazzling light from shore to shore. Beyond the river, there were green fields and forests and beyond the forests, high hills, overwashed the sun climb every morning.

7:46What lay beyond those far blue hills neither the old woman nor any of the clan of the Black Bear had the slightest idea. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful on that spring morning so long ago. The trees were beginning to turn green and little plants were all fed, pushing their way through the carpet of dead leaves. A robin lit upon the branches of a tree about the cave and sang his morning song. There was no other sound except the sizzling of a wet stake on the fire and the snapping noise made by the old woman when she took her roasted acorn from the fire and cracked it with her tea. The old woman was not pretty to look at. Her face was as brown as leather and covered with wrinkles and her hair hung about it in ragged grey locks. It was no wonder that her hair was rough and ragged for it had never been cooled, her whole life long and she was quite old, oh as old as 40 maybe, but she really couldn't help her hair being like that any more than she could

8:48help in 40 because there was not a single comb yet made in the whole world. It was a mystery how she cracked nuts so well because she had only a few teeth left in her mouth. For clothing she had nothing but the skin of her deer fastened over her left shoulder by a horn and tied around her waist with a leather palm. Although she seemed to be thinking of nothing but her nuts, the little bright eyes of the old woman kept close watching every direction and a yes were quick to hear every unusual sound. If a twig snapped or there was a rustling noise in the underbrush, she was ready an instant to cling fresh dye sticks on the fire and make it blow red against the black opening of the cave. She knew that no wild animal, however fierce and hungry would dare come near the leaping flames, yet what was she was she did not see two children who were creeping stealthily toward her or the grey drops which sheltered the mouth of the cave. She was a boy and a girl

9:48and from their size they must have been about 80 years old. They both had bright wrinkling eyes and flaming red hair and were dressed alike in skins and red foxes of almost the same color. You could tell at a glance that they were twins but it would have puzzled anyone to tell whether they were both boys or both girls or one of each kind. They came down over the rocks so quietly, not even the quick years of the old woman had the faintest sound. When they had almost reached the ground they stopped and the casamings sent open their mouths and held exactly like two young wolves. The noise was so sudden and so near that the old woman never thought of her prior at all. She simply screamed and fell right over backwards into the cave. Then she rolled over and scuttled on all fours out of sight in the darkness as fast as she could go. The acorns from her lap flew in every direction and rolled down the hillside. The boy and girl jumped to the ground shrieking

10:49with laughter. In a moment the old woman was back again in the door of the cave. She had a stout stick in her head and she looked very angry. She shifted stick at the twins and scolded them so fast that the sound of it was like the chattering of an angry squirrel in a tree top. Now of course I cannot tell you just the words she used but translated into English this is what she said. You hurried little catamounts if I catch you have will teach you better manners. Have will give you such a taste of this stick that you will not need more till the river runs dry. The twins sprang on still shrieking with laughter and danced about the fire just out of reach of the woman's stick. But she can't catch us they screamed. The red locks of hair flew about in the wind as they danced until it looked almost as a red glimpse. Rebusting from their heads the old woman glad that them helplessly danced away. She cried, danced away you red headed

11:54rascals. I shan't need to put sticks on the fire while you're here. Your red hair would scare away the savor to the tiger himself. No wonder you're not afraid to run alone in the forest. With such hates on you you were as sane as if you were in the heart of the cave. Just then she saw her egghorns all spilled on the ground and her rage broke out of fresh. Take them you little rats. They are the last of my winter story and it will be four moons yet before they will be ripe again. Down when the children on their hands and knees and began to gather up the scattered nuts. Youngest they heard they knew the value of food. They also knew the taste of granny's stick. In those days food could be only found at the risk of life itself and was not to be thrown away while hunger lasted. Besides the hunting had not been good for some time. The reindeer had gone further north and the great hordes of bison had not yet come back from the warmer regions where the ranged in winter. There were wild beasts of many other kinds in

12:59the forest but the hunters of the clan had not brought home meat for several days. This was one reason why the children had ventured so far into the forest. Most of the time they and the other children of the clan stayed near the cave under the watchful eye of the old woman while their fathers and mothers went hunting. Now don't be cross old granny sit by the fire, cry the girl. At least I think it was the girl but the twins look so exactly alike I can be quite sure. We'll pluck up your nuts for you and if you put your stick down we'll give you something we brought for you. The old woman's face softened. You might almost have plucked there was the beginning of a smile in the corners of her mouth but she only said, I know your tricks were a plus ones. You have brought to me nothing but a fright of a tumble in the ashes. The girl pulled the acorns she had gathered into the piece of birch bark which served the old woman as a plate and danced

14:03over to the mouth of the cave. She saucyly took the stick out of granny's hand and flung it on the fire and then let her back to the stone seat. Go long and get it firetop she called. I know it was the girl who said this because it was the boy who was called firetop in a contact with a red hair. The girl's hair was just as red but they called her firefly. Firetops rang up the rocks down where she had climbed so carefully only a few moments before and came down again. Slowly, carrying something in each hand. He stood before the old woman with his hands behind him. Yes, granny, yes, cried by fly. By this time the smile had got out of the corners the granny's mouth and head spread all over her face. Groose, she said. Wrong! shouted the children. Yes again. Proust gum. Wrong again! Black the twins. Granny caught a wildest time. Then she said, Snails? No, no, no. The twins said both together and then firetops slowly brought his hands round

15:10in front of him and showed the old woman four large birds eggs. You should have seen Granny's face then. It was all reads and smiles and when she smiled she wasn't so bad to look at after all. Almost nobody is for that matter. She took the eggs from firetop's hands and covered them carefully in the ashes. We all roused them. She said, I've had nothing to eat but acorns for three days past. Now tell me where you've been and how you found the eggs. We were hungry, explained parotop and all the big people had gone of hunting and we thought we'd go too. We thought we knew where we could find some roots so we hid ourselves and waited until Robin and Blackbird and Squirtles had gone down to the river to hunt frogs and then we ran back into the woods. Robin and Blackbird and Squirtles were the other children of the clan. Firefly could never stay quiet for very long and now she broke into the story.

16:11Yes, and he found some roots too, she said. We were just eating them and from a his or bush right in front of us we heard a loud snort. We didn't wait to dig any more roots I tell you. There was a chestnut tune nearby and we grabbed a limb and swung ourselves up just in time. It was only one. We were three wild boars that brushed out of the bushes and the biggest boar had tossed as long as this. Firefly held up a stick about eight inches long as she spoke. Save with digital deals at Vons and Albertsons. This week at Vons and Albertsons, Ginny O, 93% lean ground turkey is 399 per pound, sold in a three pound tray with digital coupon limit two packages and a one pound package of strawberries is 199 with digital coupon. Plus Kellogg's giant size cereal 22.6 to 29.5 ounces selected varieties are 299 each with digital coupon limit three. Hurry in visit vons or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

17:17With the Amit's Gold card, you can earn four times points at US supermarkets because the best nights in start with the grocery run that makes it happen. And when meals come with four times points, moments around the table add up to even more. Apply today and find out your welcome offer which could be as high as 100,000 points. Learn more at americanexpress.com slash explore dash gold terms and points cap apply. Save with digital deals at Vons and Albertsons. This week at Vons and Albertsons, Ginny O, 93% lean ground turkey is 399 per pound, sold in a three pound tray with digital coupon limit two packages. And a one pound package of strawberries is 199 with digital coupon. Plus Kellogg's giant size cereal 22.6 to 29.5 ounces selected varieties are 299 each with digital coupon limit three. Hurry in visit vons or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

18:18It's lucky we were up in the tree for they were all hungry too and they looked as if they thought firetop and I would taste very good. She laughed then firetop seized them. He hung down from the limb and tackled their noises with a long stick. My but they were mad. Yes said firetop. They looked just as mad as you did when we scared you, Granny. How wonder one look at you didn't scare them to death said Granny because animals are so afraid of fire. I am used to the flames on your heads but if I ever to come upon you for the first time I should think that climate tree myself or else I should think the woods were on fire in runaway. Granny pugs firefly in the rips and laughter on joke. Maybe I'll read her help some said firefly for pretty soon they all three turned and ran grunting off through the woods and then said firetop we thought you'd come back by the tree path.

19:21We went out on the limb of the chestnut as far as we could go and swung into the big oak tree that stood next. There are a lot of oak trees together there and we were going along from one to the other when there was a loud worrying noise and the big bird flew out of the top ranches right over our heads. We looked up and saw the nest. It was made of sticks. I got the eggs and handed them down to firefly and then we came home. He didn't come all the way by a tree path and carried the eggs did you? cried Granny admiringly. Oh no said firefly the eggs were too big to carry in our mouths so firetop dropped the ground and I handed the eggs down to him then we ran back home as fast as we could. You will be as great untries as your father and mother one of these days if you keep on. So Granny and no one in the whole clan can do better than they can.

20:22Mama I can remember when your father was a boy how he used to hunt eggs. That's how he got the name of hook eye. He could find eggs and other things too where nobody else could find anything at all. How he would swing along through the trees. Very wild creatures could ever get the start of him. And then your mother she could run faster than the wind could blow. She wasn't easily scared I can tell you. She had always her legs to depend upon. I've seen her run from a mad back so fast that she made just a streak of light through the forest and then the park got to near. She swall her soft into a tree and then hung by her legs safe about his head and teased about crazy because he could not reach her. She was a wild one in those days and well she earned her name of limber leg.

21:23I'm sure the eggs must be done by this time. Set firetop. Granny reached out and poked the ashes away from the eggs. They were very hot but her hands were so tough and horny that she could even handle life colds. She gave one egg to park life. Firefly took it in her hand but her hands were not quite so tough as Granny's and it burned her like everything. She dropped it on the ground squealing with pain. It was cooked so hard that it did not spill though the shell was broken. Granny laughed. She said, I'm even with you now for giving me such a scare. How? Boasted firetop? That's nothing. Watch me. I guess if you can handle them, I can. He reached down and picked up an egg and held it in his hand. It was just as hot as a colo fire but he pretended it didn't hurt him. He cracked and ate it in two bites and though I'm sure it

22:24must have burned a red path all the way to his stomach, he never said a word but when Firefly wasn't looking he did suck the air into his mouth to cool his tongue. Granny can have the other egg, can she firetop because we scared her so? Said Firefly when they had eaten one. You may scare me every day that you bring me bad eggs. Said Granny. Granny took the last egg from the ashes and this just cracking it when suddenly there was a shout which made them all jump. Those were pretty jumpy times I can tell you for a new sound might mean almost any kind of danger. They were so many wild beasts in the forest that no one could feel safe a single minute unless he was deep in a cave. Even then the cave had to have an entrance so narrow that no man hunting animal could get into it or else a fire must be kept burning before it too frightened them away. The moment they heard the sound Granny dropped her egg and sprang to her feet. Firetop and Firefly popped into the cave even burnt out of its site in an instant. Granny threw fresh sticks on the fire and as it

23:28blazed up she looked fearfully about in every direction. Now she heard another sound besides the shout and screams of children's voices. From far away down the river came a long, low roar and a trap, a trap of many feet. A group of children came tearing up the path toward the cave shouting at the top of their lungs. The beasts are coming! The beasts are coming! Granny took up the cry. The beasts are coming! The beasts are coming! She shouted into the cave and outtumbled Firetop and Firefly in the twinkling of an eye. Where where they screamed? There, there in the river bottoms, handed square toes the biggest of the boys. We were hunting for frogs and all of a sudden there was a roar. At first so vain we could hardly hear it. Then, ah, down the river we saw them coming! Run! Run to the big rock and you can see

24:30them too. Granny threw a great heap of dry wood upon the fire and ran away with the children to the big rock which lay part way down the path toward the river. From the top of this rock the whole valley was spread out before them like a map. Square toes pointed towards the south and there in the green marshy land, bordering the river where hundreds and hundreds of great dark hairy beasts. They were running and as they ran they made a low-roaring sound that was frightful to hear. We shall have fresh meat tonight, said Granny to the children. The herd has been frightened. I could not see the leaders. Some of our hunters have surely found them. These stood on the rock until the great herd had pondered by and was out of sight around a bend in the bluff. Then Granny said, come, let us go back to the fire and gather a point you feel so we can cook the meat when it comes and have a great feast.

25:58Feast which they hope to have at night. It was something like getting ready for Thanksgiving. It is likely that old seabed suit will be having a feast too, said Granny. He is as glad as any of us to see the bison come back. Maybe now he won't catch any bad children who stray too far into the wood. You see the fierce saber to the tiger was the beast they feared most of all, but they always had to be on the watch for wolves and hyenas and for the dreadful cave bear as well. There were wild horses too and elephants and mammals and lions. Granny had to keep telling the children about these dangers, just as our mothers tell us today to keep out of the way of trolley cars and steam engines and automobiles. Only trolley cars and steam engines don't run after us and stick their heads right into our front doors and try to eat us up as the wild creatures did in those days. It seems to us now that no one could possibly have had any happiness in a world

27:03so full of dangers, but you see Granny and all the rest of the clan did not know that life could be any different. Just because there were so many dangers, they grew brave to meet them, and a brave man among dangers as far happier than a covered in a safe place. So perhaps they had just as good a time living as we do after all. By the time the children had gathered a heap of wood large enough to cook the biggest kind of a feast, it was afternoon. There was nothing in the cave to eat and they grew hungrier and hungrier, but they were no signs of any hunters. Shadows began to gather in the woods. Now and then was a cry of some nightbird. Or if a distant wolf, these were lonely sounds. Firefly began to be discouraged. Suppose they shouldn't bring home any meat after all, she said. Then we all just have to go hungry. Sir Granny, Foytop laid his hand on his stomach in ground.

28:03Men never complained of such things, Sir Granny. Foytop took his hand off his stomach at once and made believe he had just coughed a little. You see the cave people thought they're talking to bear hunger and pain without making any fuss about it. I tell you what we could do. Sir Granny, if we had some water, we could have a place to boil the meat already when the hunters come back. Who will go for the water? I'll go. Sit fartop. So be lie. Sit blackbird. And I sit square toes. They were all boys. Robin and Firefly were the only little girls in the clan. Get the guards in the pigskin and run along then. Sir Granny, keep a sharp lookout. For you know the wild beasts will be soon out for their night hunting. My top run for the skin of the wild boar which was in the cave. It was their water cask. The other boys got guards with their holes cut in them to make tippers and then they were ready to start.

29:07Morning took three sticks of pine and laid the ends in the fire. When they were burning well, she gave one of them to each of the boys for a torch. It isn't dark yet, but you will be safe with these anyway. She said. As soon as three boys had conskipping and booping down the pads to the river, Granny and the girls set about getting a kettle ready. They hollowed out a hole in the ground not far from the fire. When it was deep enough they lined it with a heavy piece of hide. They put stones around the edge of it to keep it in place. Then they gathered piles of small stones and threw them in the fire to get hot. By the time all this was done the boys were back with the pick skin full of water. Granny poured it into the hollow dish in the ground. It was almost dark and it seemed to the children that they could not wait another minute when they heard a welcome sound. It was the noise of voices, talking and laughing together. They sprang to their feet and gave a boop of joy. It was answered by a shout from the pad.

30:08They are coming slowly and they are laughing. They have meat! Cryed Granny, she threw more wood on the fire. Aftlut of flames laying the forest with a red glare. Sparks loaded away over the very tree tops. By its light they saw Hawkeye and Limberleg and all the other men and women of the clan twilling up the pad. The bigger boys were with them too and they were all loaded down with great chunks of bison meat. The wary hunters dropped the bison skins in one place to be stretched and cured the next day. They meat they threw down on the ground at the mouth of the cave and Granny and the other women began at once to cook it. Some of it they put in the fire to roast and some of it they put in the leather kettle in the ground. Then they poked the hot stones out of the fire into the water. They kept taking the stones out of the water with the sticks as they grew cool and putting them back into the fire to get hot again. In this way he soon got the water to boil. The smell of the roasting and boiling meat was too much for a firetop. It made him so

31:10hungry that he couldn't wait. He just snatched a piece of meat from the ground and ate it raw. But he was ready to eat again when the meat was cooked and the real feast began. Then the great fire blazed and crackled outside the entrance and filled the cave with a warm red blow. The whole clan gathered in the front of the cave near the fire. Hokai was the leader of the clan because he was the strongest man and the best hunter. He was a large man with little sharp eyes and red hair which covered his breast and legs as well as his head. Around his neck was a string of bears teeth. There were four other men. They were called eagle, nose, gravell, bigger and longer. There were three other women besides the member leg and granny. They were the wives of the men. There were four big boys who were already hunting with the men and there were blackboard robin and square toes besides firetop and firefly. These were all they were in the clan of the bear. When the bees began the people all sat down in a circle, all but granny. Granny stood

32:16up and handed out great chunks of meat to the others and kept the fire bright. But she had a bone in her hand all the time and whenever she had a chance she ignored at it. They have a known nice old folks who played of course. They all took their meat in their hands and just not and gobbled as fast as they could. Nobody had any manners and not a single mother said, have you washed your hands or don't take such large mouthfuls or you will choke yourself or anything like that. There were some things about those jazves must have been very pleasant after all. For a long time they ate and said nothing. You see food had been scarce for so many days that they had to make up for last time. But by and by, when they were all stuffed full, by their top rolled over onto the skin of a bear which was lying on the cave floor and said to his father, tell us about the hunting, who killed the meat and how was it you all came back together. Did you hunt in a pack like the wolves? Not just like the wolves said hawk I love

33:21me. There were five of us after the bison. The women went off to set snacks for rabbits and the boys to hunt eggs along the bluffs up the river. I felt in my bones that we should see the bison today. Save with digital deals at Vons and Albertsons. This week at Vons and Albertsons, Ginnyo 93% lean ground turkey is 399 per pound, sold in a 3 pound tray with digital coupon limit two packages. And a 1 pound package of strawberries is 199 with digital coupon. Plus, Kellogg's giant size cereal, 22.6 to 29.5 ounces, selected varieties are 299 each with digital coupon limit three. Hurry in, visit vons or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Save with digital deals at Vons and Albertsons. This week at Vons and Albertsons,

34:26Ginnyo 93% lean ground turkey is 399 per pound, sold in a 3 pound tray with digital coupon limit two packages. And a 1 pound package of strawberries is 199 with digital coupon. Plus, Kellogg's giant size cereal, 22.6 to 29.5 ounces, selected varieties are 299 each with digital coupon limit three. Hurry in, visit vons or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. So the men and I took our way to where the lowlands. We knew they would come from that direction. We followed the bluffs for a long way but found nothing. We were beginning to think we should come home empty handed when for way I heard bowing. Within I saw a little black speck moving along the green valley. Two black specks moved beside it. They were the leader and his two sentinels and behind them came the herd. We saw the herd too, quite far top. I saw them first,

35:32said square toes. I saw them just as quick as you shouted blackbird. Shut up, said his mother and blackbird did. Others and mothers in those days used just such language as that even if the children didn't mind it once they were likely to get something worse than just language. It wasn't a polite age at all. We cracked down the bluffs as quietly as snakes. When Don Hock I even everybody was still again. I was in the front. When the leader of the herd got to our hiding place I sprang from the bushes and threw my spear with all my strength. He gave a mighty roar. He stood on his hind legs and tundered. Then big he sprang forward and threw his spear. The leader fell. The herd broke and ran. The sentinels could not control them. Then we ran toward them. We killed two young cows with our axes. The rest of the herd rushed past.

36:33The leader and two cows were left behind. The leader was old and tough. We pulled out our spears and left him to the jackals and hyenas. The two cows were small. We skin them and cut them into pieces and started with a cave. At the foot of the path we met other people. They were very and had caught nothing. When they saw us they left for joy. We heard them, cried by a fly. Granny said you would bring meat. She said so when we heard the laughing. She said so when the herd passed by. She thought that they had been frightened. That is why we had the kettle ready. Granny is a wise old woman. Said Hock I. Now get to bed every one of you. The children scuttled away and threw themselves down and heaped the skins which lay about the cave and were soon sound asleep. At least the others were asleep but for some reason by the top and by the fly stayed away. Maybe they had eaten too much. At any rate they lay in the

37:34corner on their own heap of skins and walked Hock I and Limerleg and Granny and the others as they sat about in the cheerful glow of the fire. Nobody had said anything for a long time. The twins were beginning to feel quite sleepy when Hock I spoke. What he said made them sit up and listen all day years. Of course neither Hock I nor Limerleg thought for a moment that the twins were awake or listening. Corner people are often very stupid about such things. Anyway they were awake and they did listen and this is what they heard. Hock I said I'm going across the river tomorrow. Why are you going? Asked a big ear. I want to see what lies beyond the blue hills that the sun climbs over. Hock I answered. But no one of our clan has ever gone across the river. Our hunting grounds have always been on the side. Sit longer. It is time one did go then.

38:35Sit Hock I. Game will be plentiful now everywhere. But after the rain do you go? There is a long time that we have little food. We need to find new hunting grounds. I am going to seek them. Then I'm going too. It was Limerleg who spoke. I can hunt. I can trap as well as anybody and I can throw a spear at straight. I am not afraid. Granny will look after the children while they are gone. When we heard that far top poked firefly in the ribs. I'm going with them. He was spurred. They'll never let you. Firefly was spurred back. I'm going anyway. Firetop answered. Don't you tell? If you go I am going. Said firefly. I can go as well as you can. Shhh. Said firetop for Granny was speaking. The river is wide and dangerous. She said. The current is swift. And who knows what monsters

39:39may mean it. I myself saw where I know there is wellowing in the mud only a few days ago. Some say they have seen a sapent as large as the trunk of a tree. We can go up the river until we find a shallow place to cross. Said Hawkeye. I have killed a tiger and a rhinoceros and a cave there in my time. We can take care of ourselves. When Limerleg heard him say we, she knew that she was going and she was glad. She was as brave as Hawkeye and almost as good a hunter. When he saw that Hawkeye had really made up his mind to go, nobody else said anything. They knew it would be a waste of words and in those days there were fewer words to waste than we have now. We must start early. Hawkeye said to Limerleg, we will take one extra skin at peace in our accidents beers. Limerleg rose at once and went over to the corner of the cave where the twins were. The twins shut their eyes tight and pretended to be sound asleep.

40:39Firetop even snored a little. Limerleg spread the skins of two bears upon the cave floor and threw herself on one of them. Hawkeye went to the cave mouth to go look at the stars, yonned, warmed himself at the fire and then he too went to bed. The rest of the men and women found their own places in other shadowy corners of the cave and soon the whole clan of the bear was sound asleep. Chapter 3 of the Cave Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins This is a Libra Box Recording. All Libra Box Recording are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraBox.org. The Cave Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins. Chapter 3 The Runaways Next morning, firetop awoke before the dawn. He sat up at once and looked about him.

41:40Not another soul was tearing and from the different corners of the cave came the sound of snores. The fire was burning brightly for Granny had been up four times in the night to put on fresh real. Now, she too was fast asleep. Firetop crawled quietly out of the warm, woolskins of his bed. He took one of the woolskins and tied it over his shoulder with a leather tongue. The rest he bunched up to look as if he were still in bed in his sleep. Hawkeye had made a small spear for each of the twins. They were not playthings. They were real spears for children of that day had to learn to use such weapons while they were still young. Firetop took his spear in his hand and peved five-ly gently in the ribs with it. She awoke instantly and would have poked back if firetop hadn't shaken his head at her and laid his finger on his lips. She nodded, crawled out of her bed and bunched it up like firetops. Then she tied a woolskin over her shoulder and took her own spear and together the two children

42:41crept silently past the sleepers and out of the cave. They snatched chunks of meat from the remains of the feast as they passed. It was not yet daylight, though the sky was pink about the hills across the river and all the birds were singing as the twins came out of the cave and ran down the river path. Neither one of them spoke until they were far enough from the cave so that no one could hear them. Then firetop this bird. We'll climb the tree. We can wash from the tree and see when they start. Then we'll slide down and follow them. They won't know of you with them until it's too far to send us back. They won't like it, said Firefly. What do you think they will do to us? They'll wallop us, said Firetop. But I don't care. You won't hurt when it's over and I've just got to go. We shall see all kinds of things we've never seen before. Well, side-firefly. I do hate that part of it, but I guess it's worth it. Come on, let's climb this tree. The children could climb like monkeys, but they had their weapons and the meat and that

43:46meat it a little difficult. The leaner spheres against the trunk of the tree took the meat in their teeth and up they went as easily as you could go upstairs. Then they hid themselves in a fork of the tree and ate their breakfast. The take branches made a screen around them so they could see without being seen. They washed the cave. It was not long before they saw Granny come out and take a look at the weather. Then she put more fuel on the fire and sat down on a rock to gnaw a bone for her breakfast. Soon Hokai and Limbelec appeared. They each had their weapons and a reindeer skin strapped by leather tones across their shoulders. Limbelec had a god tied to her belt. They were each knowing bones too. They stopped to speak to Granny. The twins leaned forward and listened with all their ears. They heard Hokai say, the children of stereless sleep. You can tell them when they wake up. Then they came along the path eating as they came. They passed almost under the tree where the twins were hiding. They seemed to the twins so funny that they stuffed their

44:48mouths full of meat and then clapped their hands over them to keep from laughing aloud. As it was, a little sneaker ran out between five fly fingers. Hokai heard it. What's that? He said sharply. He and Limbelec stopped the moment and listened. 6-29.5 ounces selected varieties are 299 each with digital coupon limit 3. Hurry in, visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. 8-5. Meet the Red Bull Dragonberry Emergizer. It's one of the many new drinks out now. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire. Try them all only at McDonald's.

45:52Save with digital deals at Vans and Albertsons. This week at Vans and Albertsons, Ginny O 93% lean ground turkey is 399 per pound. Sold in a 3 pound tray with digital coupon limit 2 packages and a 1 pound package of strawberries is 199 with digital coupon. Plus Kellogg's giant size cereal 22.6 to 29.5 ounces selected varieties are 299 each with digital coupon limit 3. Hurry in, visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. 5-5. Limbelec passed on down the path to the very edge of the forest. There they turned and walked along the bluffs where they could swing themselves into a tree at a moment's notice. This was safer than walking in the green meadows beside the river where there were no trees to climb. Five top and five fly waited until they were out of sight around the

46:52term. Then they crawled down from the tree, took their spears and their hands and ran after them. They stayed back far enough so they could hide behind trees if Hawkeye or Limbelec should turn around. You're near enough to keep them in sight. For miles and miles they walked and ran. It was hard with their short legs to keep the pace set by their father and mother, but they knew where they all had to do it. There was no turning back then. On and on walked Hawkeye and Limbelec. The sun climbed higher and higher. The children with her sea but they did not dare to run down to the river for a drink. They were hungry but they had nothing to eat. They snatched little green leaves from the bushes as they passed, but this was hardly enough to fill their empty stomachs. We'll just have to call them, said five fly at last. I'm so hungry I've simply got to have something to eat and if we stop to hunt for roots we'll never catch up with them again. There'll be as mad as mad bulls when they see us, said Firefly. Yes of course we'll get a good beating on said Firefly. We expected that but

47:58it won't hurt after it is over you told me so yourself. Jiminy said Firefly or if it wasn't Jiminy it was something that meant the same thing. I just hate to think of it. Can't you go on a little longer? What's the difference? Mound Firefly. It's got to come sometime. It might as well have it over. Not going another step. And she sat plump down on the fallen tree. Fight up with his hands to his mouth and give a long sharp cry. It was a distress signal of the bear clan. Hawkeye and Limberleg stopped instantly. They looked up at the river, they looked down the river, and they caught a glimpse of two redheads and two very scared faces far back on the bluff. They came tearing back through the underbrush to the two small figures on the log. They could hardly believe their eyes. Where did you come from? You naughty little visels. Cryed Limberleg angrily from the cave said Firefly. We followed you because we want to see what lies beyond the

48:59blue hills across the river too. And if you're going to spank us, please do it right away because we're awfully hungry. Oh no! Cryed Firetar. You needn't do it now if you'd rather not. Couldn't you put it off until we get home again? We were willing to wait and you'd have more time then. Limberleg and Hawkeye didn't discuss the matter. They sat right down on the log and began. Limberleg took Firefly and Hawkeye took Firetop and they spanked and spanked. Now can we have something to eat? Sniffled Firetop when it was over? Limberleg looked at Hawkeye. We can't send them back alone, she said. Why top saw that they were going to give in? The hyenas would surely get us. He said plainatively. We're pretty small to go back load. Soft Firefly. And besides, we want to see what lies beyond the blue hills across the river. Maybe that Hawkeye was a little pleased at their courage in following them. Anyway, he said, well, you can climb like squirrels. We shall not be going many days. Come along.

50:08Firetop sprang up and worked for joy. Firefly turned as summer salt. Hawkeye and Limberleg laughed. They couldn't help it. You see, even in those early times, parents were fond of their children although they didn't know any better punishment for them than spankings. There are some parents like that yet. Now what shall we have to eat? Said Firefly when everybody was happy again. We'll have to find something. Said Hawkeye to Limberleg. You take the children down into the meadow. I see carrots growing down there. I'll hunt in the woods. Listen for my coal and when you hear it, come to that big oak tree as fast as you can. Limberleg and the twins started at once down the bluff toward the river. The bushes grew thick along the slope and as they scrambled through, they made a crashing noise. Firetop was ahead then came Firefly and last fall, Limberleg. Suddenly, there was a loud, varying sound and out of the bushes in front of them flew a great wood grass. Instantly, Firetop brazed himself and flung his spear and before Limberleg, all Firefly could catch up with him. He was far beyond them down the

51:12slope, struggling with the wounded bird. When they reached him, he had killed it. Limberleg was delighted. She padded Firetop and called him a great hunter and said she was glad he had come with them after all. Maybe you think Firetop wasn't a proud boy then? He vaguely vagled his red head and swaggered up the slope toward the big oak tree with a huge bird on his shoulder. Limberleg and Firefly stayed behind a hunt in the bushes for the grass is nest. Firefly found it and there were seven eggs in it. Then Limberleg padded Firefly. Your father and I will not need to get any food for you, she said. Maybe you will hunt for us. They went up the slope after Firetop, carrying the eggs. Save with digital deals at Vons and Albertsons. This week at Vons and Albertsons, Ginnyo 93% lean ground turkey is 399 per pound. Sold in a 3 pound tray with digital coupon limit two packages and a 1 pound package of strawberries is 199 with digital coupon. Plus, Kellogg's giant size cereal 22.6 to 29.5 ounces selected varieties are 299 each with digital

52:17coupon limit three. Hurry in, visit Vons or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. With the Amit's Gold card, you can earn 4 times points at US Supermarkets because the best nights in start with the grocery run that makes it happen. And when meals come with 4 times points, moments around the table add up to even more. Apply today and find out your welcome offer which could be as high as 100,000 points. Learn more at americanexpressed.com slash explore dash code terms and points cap apply. Save with digital deals at Vons and Albertsons. This week at Vons and Albertsons, Ginnyo 93% lean ground turkey is 399 per pound. Sold in a 3 pound tray with digital coupon limit two packages and a 1 pound package of strawberries is 199 with digital coupon. Plus Kellogg's giant size cereal 22.6 to 29.5 ounces selected varieties are

53:17299 each with digital coupon limit three. Hurry in, visit Vons or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. When they reached the big old tree, on the bluff, Limbelec took the feathers of the grouse and cut it into chunks with her flint knife. They had no fires so they ate it raw. They ate 5 of the eggs and left 2 for Hawkeye. They saved the legs of the grouse for him too. They waited and waited but still Hawkeye didn't come. They began to get a little frightened. He was gone so long. At last there was a call. Like the hooting of an owl and he appeared crashing through the bushes. He had a rabbit hanging from his shoulder and then Firefly played a trick on him. We aren't hungry, she said. Hawkeye was astonished. I thought you were starved by the way you acted. He said, we aren't any of us hungry now. Sit fire top. Did you fill yourselves with carrots?

54:18Asked Hawkeye. Oh no, we had fresh meat. Sit fire top with his nose in the air. Fresh meat? Crried Hawkeye. What did you kill? He said to Limbelec. Nothing. Said Limbelec. But I did. Shattered fire top. He told all about killing the grouse. You should have seen Hawkeye then. He was just as pleased as our father saw when we get A in arithmetic. I guess you can take care of yourself. He said when he heard the story, you don't need me. And he laughed and made his face look scared. Will you let me go with you to the land where the sun rises? He said, I'm very small but I can climb trees. I'm afraid to go alone. I need you to kill bicellin and mamads for me to eat. Fires off five flying Limbelec laughed at this until they nearly choked. Then fire top worked as head at his father. You shouldn't have followed me. He said, I shall have to spank you. What you do is small to send alone to the cave so I'll have to let you

55:22come with me. End of chapter 3 Chapter 4 of the Cave Twins Chapter 4 of the Cave Twins. This is a Librebox Recording. All Librebox Recording turned in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librebox.org. The Cave Twins by Lucy Fish Perkins. Chapter 4 The Journey. All the rest of the day they followed the river. Looking for a place where it was shallow enough for them to cross without serious danger of drowning. They did not know how to swim. For their supper they had only the rabbit. They aided sitting on the bluff with their backs to each other so they could watch in every direction for signs of danger. When the shadows of the bluff grew long across the meadows, Limbelec said, Darkness will soon be upon us. Where are we going to sleep? We won't sleep in a cave anyway, said Hawkeye. Even if we could find one, we might find a

56:24cave bear at home in it. In that case we should probably spend the night in a stomach and I'm sure that would be too crowded to be comfortable. We can't spend the night on the ground, surely, said Limbelec, or we might wake up in the stomach of old sabretoot instead. This was just their way of joking because I never heard of any one waking up after being swallowed except Jonah and Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother. And of course the story happened long before either Jonah or Red Riding Hood or her grandmother did. Hawkeye took out his Flint knife. I almost said he took it out of his pocket because it seemed queer to think of a man without pockets. Of course, he didn't really have any though. The Flint knife was fastened to his belt by a thong. Go and find all the great wines you can, he said. Limbelec and the twins flew back into the forest to search for wines. There were plenty of them and they pulled up a great heap of long, tough stems and brought them back to Hawkeye. Hawkeye had another bunch which he had cut. On the bluff

57:28where we're looking the valley there was a great oak tree with giant branches spreading in every direction. We'll sleep here, said Hawkeye. Nothing can harm us unless a wild-cared or some such climbing creature should visit us and I think I could make him wish he hadn't come. I shall have my spear beside me and shall sleep on the lower limbs. Shall we roost like the birds, asked five flier anxiously? Limbelec laughed and took a leap into the air and caught one of the branches. She swung herself into the tree and ran along the branch to the great thick trunk. Hand up the wines she called down and I'll show you how we will roost. Hawkeye tossed them up to her. She climbed higher in the tree and found a place where two limbs came together like those shown in the picture. She bowed the wines back and forth over the two branches until she had made a rough network like a very coarse hammock. Now up you come she called to five fly and I'll put you to bed.

58:29Firefly climbed the tree. This was the way she went upstairs to bed. Limbelec took off the wool skin which was still tied over her shoulders and spread it over the wine hammock. Then Firefly crawled into her bed. Her mother took the leather tongue which had been around the wool skin and tied her securely to one of the limbs with it. That was her way of tucking her in so that she would not fall out of bed. She didn't hear her say her prayers because in those days they didn't know there was anything to pray to unless it was to giants or the spirits of water or fire or thunder and lightning. They prayed to them sometimes when they were frightened. I don't believe she kissed her good night either. There was not much kissing in those days. When Firefly was safely stowed away Limbelec climbed farther up the tree to find a place to fight up but he had already found one for himself and was beginning to make his bed. When he was swung from his branches like a big cocoon Hawkeye and Limbelec made themselves as comfortable as they could on the lower limbs of the tree.

59:31The western sky was all flamed with yellow and red as they settled themselves for the night and the birds sang them to sleep. When Firefly top opened his eyes the next morning he couldn't think where he was. He tried to flop over as he could so easily do when sleeping on his wool skins in the cave but he found himself securely tied. He lifted his head and looked out. The sun was just rising over the blue hills across the river. He looked down through the tree branches to see his father and mother. They were not there. For a moment he thought perhaps he had dreamed it all. I often go to all sorts of strange places when I'm asleep he said to himself. Pretty soon I'll wake up in the cave. He waited to wake up but he didn't wake up. He kept right on being out of doors and up a tree and his parents kept on being gone. Then he remembered all about everything. He called the Firefly. Are you there? She answered in the sleepy voice. Yes. Are you sure? Firetop called back because father and mother aren't

1:00:37aren't what? Said Firefly getting wider awake. Aren't there? Firetop answered. Firefly lifted her head and tried to roll over. If she had not been tied she would have rolled out of bed. She looked down too. The branches were certainly empty. What would you do if you were to wake up in the morning and find yourself tied in bed and your father and mother gone and no breakfast ready? Well they did just the same thing. They simply yelled. They had good strong lungs and they made a great deal of noise. When they stopped they heard a distant shout that sounded like their own. Oh, oh, oh, it came back to them from two different directions. That's not father's voice. Said Firetop. More mothers said Firefly. It's somebody's. It must be theirs. Let's call again. Said Firetop. They nearly split their throats that time. Oh, oh, oh, this creamed. And oh, oh, oh,

1:01:42came back from the forest in the river. It must be the spirits of the water and the trees mocking us. Said Firetop. It sounded just like us. You see they did not know what an echo was. I'm scared, said Firefly. I'm too a little, Firetop admitted. Let's not call anymore. If he keeps still maybe the spirits won't find us, whispered Firefly. They snuggle down in the wool skins and kept very still. By and by they heard a crashing sound in the underbrush not far away. They were stiff at fright. They didn't dare even to breathe. Then came a loud cry. Who? Who? Who? And the crashing noise came nearer. It came right under that tree. And somebody's voice called. Are you awake, little red foxes, up in the tree? Two redheads instantly popped over the edge of the tree beds and two voices cried out something that meant, oh, we're so glad that you come back. Limbalak climbed the tree and entide the children.

1:02:46It took them about two seconds to get to the ground and they didn't fall down either. There under the tree they found Hawkeye. He was preparing breakfast. He and Limbalak had gone down to the riverbank very early and had found a whole colony of turtles. They had brought home four turtle eggs a piece. If I had learned arithmetic, I should ask how many eggs there were. It would have been no use to ask the twins. Neither they nor their father and mother could have told you. They hadn't any of them learned to count that far. Nobody could in those days. They might short work of the eggs even if they couldn't add or multiply or divide. When they had finished eating them, they strapped their skins on their shoulders once more and started up the river. All the morning they tramped steadily along looking for a good place to fort it. The sun was already in the west when suddenly Limbalak stopped at a turn in the bluff. See, see, she cried. Two rivers. They all stopped and looked. The river folk did the point

1:03:49or rather two small-edged streams came together making one big one. There was a high wee-shaped point of land between the two streams. Now we can cross, cried Limbalak joyfully. She let the way running and leaping down the bluffs to the river's edge. The banks at this point were sandy and the river full of stones. The current was swift but the water was clear and not very deep. Limbalak ran out on the stones. Come, she called to the twins. Follow close after me. She leaped lightly over the stones to the middle of the stream where the river was deepest. The children followed partway. Then firetaps stood still on one of the stones and looked at the swirling water. Save with digital deals at Vons and Albertsons. This week at Vons and Albertsons, Ginny O, 93% lean ground turkey is 399 per pound. Sold in a three-pound tray with digital coupon limit two packages. And a one-pound package of strawberries is 199 with digital coupon. Plus Kellogg's giant size cereal, 22.6 to 29.5 ounces, selected varieties are 299 each,

1:04:54with digital coupon limit three. Hurry in, visit vons or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Save with digital deals at Vons and Albertsons. This week at Vons and Albertsons, Ginny O, 93% lean ground turkey is 399 per pound. Sold in a three-pound tray with digital coupon limit two packages. And a one-pound package of strawberries is 199 with digital coupon. Plus Kellogg's giant size cereal, 22.6 to 29.5 ounces, selected varieties are 299 each, with digital coupon limit three. Hurry in, visit vons or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Firefly was on the next stone behind him. The stone in front looked a long way off the firetop. I can't jump so far. He squealed. I can't either. Wailed firefly. Well, legs aren't long

1:06:00enough. Jump. Cryed limbolegged impatiently. We can't shout at the twins beginning to cry. You see, they were afraid of water. And it really wasn't much wonder for they had never even had a real bath in their whole lives. I have no children to feel just the same way about water in these days. They can't bear it, even on a washcloth. Haukeye was on the stone behind them. Jump, he shouted. Or I'll give you something to cry for. And that was the very first time that any parent ever said that about giving them something to cry for. And they've been saying it ever since to my personal knowledge. You see that? With limbolegged in front calling jump, and Haukeye behind saying such alarming things, the twins were in a tight place. There was nothing to do but jump. So firetop took a flying leap and firefly followed him. Luckily, she came just a little too soon. She jumped down to firetop. His feet flew out from under him. He lost his footing on the stone and they both rolled into the cold water. The crying they had done before wasn't

1:07:04anything to what they did then. I can tell you. That is, as soon as their heads were out to water again. They might have been carried away by the current if Haukeye had an instantly thrown his spear across the father shore and jumped enough to them. He seized one of them with each hand and waited with them to the land. Then he picked up his spear again from the ground where it had fallen. If you will believe me, the twins held tight to their own little spears all the time. Even when they were underwater. It was all they had to hold to, to be sure. And besides, they loved those spears more than we loved dolls and roller skates and marbles and baseball. All put together. Limelag laughed at the dripping little figures. He looked like a pair of water rats. She cried. The twins could not see anything funny in that. Little streams of water trickled down the backs and they didn't like it. The rock that was on the point of land between the two rivers was not far away from the place where they landed. Let's go to the top, said Limelag, to the twins. That will warm you up.

1:08:08It was quite a steep climb and I wish you could see what they saw from that summit. They could look a long way up, each of the two rivers and a long way down the big one. There were deep, silent woods along the shores. They looked back on the land between the two streams. They were all beginning to be hungry again by this time and they hope that they might see their supper wandering about somewhere over the rocks. We'll see who has the sharpest eyes, said Limelag. I see something white right now. Way down there in the bushes, said Firefly. It's bouncing around. I see two, said Hawkeye. It's the tail of a deer. There's a herd down there. Hawkeye started down the rocks in a hurry. I'll not be gone long. He called back to Limelag. Get a fire started before I come back. Limelag and the twins watched Hawkeye untowally disappeared in the underbrush. Then she and the children began to gather wood for the fire. Fired top found a piece of hardwood that was round. Limelag pointed the end of it with her flint knife.

1:09:10Then they hunted for a piece of softwood. In the softwood Limelag made a little hollow place that would fit the end of the stick. Now, Firefly, you stay with me, said she. I want you to gather little tendrils of dry moss and watch beside me valid twirl the stick. The moment I tell you to, you must drop little pieces of dry moss into the hollow place in the wood. Fired top, you gather a great heap of sticks here on top of the rock. Limelag knelt on the edge of the rock and began to twirl the stick between her hands. As she twirled, she mumbled a prayer to the fire god. Firefly held a softwood firmly in place while Limelag worked. She twirled in twirled until a tiny thread of smoke began to curl from the hollow. Shop in the moss, cried Limelag. The smoke grew thicker. Limelag worked faster and faster. Soon, a tiny flame burst forth. Firefly fed the flame with a dried moss until it was big enough to burn little twigs and dead leaves. Soon, a brisk fire was burning. Fired top had brought a great

1:10:15pile of wood to the rock and it also found some long willow branches to use in broiling meat. The fire is ready but where is the food? said Firefly. It was not long in coming. Hawkeye soon appeared climbing up the rock with a young dough on his shoulder. He and Limelag skinned it and cut up the meat and they had all the broiled venison. They could possibly eat for supper. We shall have to spend the night here said Hawkeye when they couldn't eat anymore. We couldn't find a better place anyway. There is water around the rock except in the landside. We'll keep the fire bright and we shall be just as safe as the viper in the cave. Save with digital deals at Vons and Albertsons. This week at Vons and Albertsons, Ginny O 93% lean ground turkey is 399 per pound. Sold in a 3 pound tray with digital coupon limit to packages and a 1 pound package of strawberries is 199 with digital coupon. Plus Kellogg's giant size cereal 22.6 to 29.5 ounces selected varieties are 299 each with

1:11:17digital coupon limit 3. Hurry in visit Vons or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. With the Amax Gold Card, you can earn 4 times points at US Supermarkets because the best nights in start with the grocery run that makes it happen. And when meals come with 4 times points, moments around the table add up to even more. Apply today and find out your welcome offer which could be as high as 100,000 points. Learn more at americanexpressed.com slash Explored Dash Gold, terms and points cap apply. Hawkeye spread the fire in a long line across the land side of the rock. He built a sort of wall of sticks and branches to feed it. And all night long

1:12:19it blazed and smoldered. They spread their skins on the rock and splept spesfully in its warm glow. The next morning dawned bright and clear and the whole family got up with the birds. They had more Venition for breakfast and when that was out of the way, Hawkeye said, we better get across the other river early. There's no telling how far we may have to go today or what we may find on the way. I hate to leave this place, cried Firefly. It's so beautiful and I'm sure there is lots of game here. I hate to leave the dosekin behind, said Limberleg. But of course I can't dry and stretch and cure it while we are traveling. We can carry enough meat to last is all day, said Hawkeye. And that will save lots of time. We won't have to stop to hunt for a dinner. He tied a great piece of meat over the shoulders of Firetob and Firefly and Limberleg and took the biggest piece on his own back and off they started. It would take too long to tell you all about what at time they had getting across the river. It was deeper than the first one they crossed and if it hadn't

1:13:23been for a lucky accident they might never have got across at all. When they came to the water's edge, Firetob saw some turtles sunning themselves on a log, a little way down the stream. The log had floated down the river and had caught against a dead branch that struck out of the water. They were not so afraid of the water nowadays had really been in it. Firetob thought it would be great fun to catch a turtle. He pointed them out to Firefly. Come on was all he said but she knew what it meant and at once the two children waited quietly out toward the log. Waiting in was altogether different from having to tumble in anyway. The turtle saw them coming and just as the twins reached the log they slid off into the water. One of them found one of Firetob's big toes in the mud and bit it. Firetob screamed and tried to get away. Firefly didn't know what was the matter but she screamed too ungeneral principles and they both grabbed the log and tried to climb onto it. The log rolled over and got loose from the branch that held it and started downstream with

1:14:27the both children clinging to it and yelling. They couldn't get up on it because it kept turning over but they held on because it was the only thing there was to hold on to and Firetob kicked kicking with all his might to get away from the turtle. Firefly did some kicking too because she was trying to find the bottom with her feet and there wasn't any bottom there. The current was not very swift at this point and though they didn't know it the children were really swimming with their legs and they made the log go toward the other shore. While all of this was happening where do you suppose the hawk eye and number leg were? They were chasing after them as fast as they could go but the children had quite a start and got farther away every minute. The water was almost over a limbo leg's head and you know how hard it is to walk in deep water. Besides they had the meat. The meat that the twins were carrying got loose in their struggles and fell off in the water. Perhaps the turtle saw it and decided that it was better eating than Firetob's toe or maybe he got homesick. I can't tell about that but anyway he let go. The twins kept on reaching for the

1:15:30bottom and kicking with all their might and screaming too and before long the log ran its nose into the farther bank and they seized the branches of a village tree that hung over the water and pulled themselves up on the shore. In a moment hawk eye and limbo leg came tearing up the river bank to them. They had come straight across the river while the children had been carried some distance by the current. You can just think how glad they all were when they found that they were across and not a single one of them had been drowned. When Firetob told about the turtle hawk eye laughed and laughed then my leg laughed a little too. Firetob felt pretty sorry for himself but he wasn't really hurt and in half an hour he had forgotten to limp. End of chapter 4 Chapter number 5 of the Cape Twins. This is a Libra Box Recording. All Libra Box Recoddings are in the public domain. For more information on to volunteer please visit LibraBox.org.

1:16:33The Cape Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins. Chapter 5. The Tree Clan. They walked a little way along the bank looking for a good place to cross the flat green meadow that lay between the river and the forest. Soon they came to a sort of path which led them back into the woods. Hawk eye looked at it very carefully. He even got down and examined the wet ground at the water's edge. In the mud there were footprints. Isn't it age-rinking place for the wild creatures? As Limberleg? Hawk eye-granted. Like ourselves he answered briefly. There are people living in these woods. That's the print of a man's foot. Limberleg looked just as she would have looked if he had said, there's a pack of hyenas living in those woods. There was reason for it in those days. The different groups of people in the forest had nothing to do with one another and when they met they were much more likely to fight than to be friendly. Come we go up the river bank and not go into the woods at all. Ask Limberleg.

1:17:38For answer Hawk eye-pointed down the river. Far away in the green meadow they saw two mammoths feeding. Even at that distance they looked like giant rocks looming out of the grass. Their long ivory tusks gleamed in the sun. We can't go that way, said Limberleg, and it's no use to go back. We'll go up the path to the edge of the wood and then follow the river, said Hawk eye. Maybe no one will see us. It's the best we can do. Be quiet and be quick. He set off at his swift trot, his fury in his hand. The two children followed with their mother. Hesie Shadows moving in the trees, said Firefly. Both twins wished very much that they were at home with Granny just at that moment. They are following us. Heir up on the bluff, Limberleg answered in a low voice. Hawk eye had seen all that they had seen and more, but he said nothing. He trotted on.

1:18:39Just then a chunk of mud and dirt came flying through the air and struck Hawk eye on the head. Stones, steaks and all sorts of missiles followed. Keep on running, said Hawk eye. They were terribly frightened, but they did as they were told. If they had looked up, they would have seen a terrifying sight. On the edge of the bluff, there was a strange group of people. At least we must call them people, though they looked more like monkeys than the human beings. They were grinning horribly and dancing about and shattering to each other. The bodies were covered with dark hair. Their arms were long and strong, their legs shot. They had little eyes set near together and almost no forehead at all. Every one of them had something in his hand to throw as a traveller. Hawk eye kept straight on. Run, he cried. We can't fight. There are too many. On, on they ran, panting in breathless. A little way ahead there were

1:19:42some large rocks on the edge of the wood. There they might find a momentary shelter. They had almost reached the rocks when suddenly a woman of the wild tribe let herself down out of a tree on the edge of the bluff and made a bowl dash down the slope. Before they could stop her, she had seized Firefly and dragged her away. She got as far as the first stroke tree on the slope and had actually snatched a limb intending to swing herself in Firefly into it. When limberleg screaming with fury reached a spot. Limberleg seized Firefly by one arm. The wild woman had hold of the other. They pulled in opposite directions and screamed. And if it had not been for Hawk eye there is no telling what might have become of poor Firefly. She might have been pulled in two or she might have been carried off and adopted into the wild clan. But Hawk eye was there in almost no time. And though the people on the bluff rained down sticks and stones upon them, Hawk eye drove his spear into the woman's arm. With a shriek of pain she let go of Firefly and dashed away

1:20:45into the forest. Run for your lives! cried Hawk eye and they started again at top speed for the rocks. They reached them none too soon for the people on the bluff infuriated by the injury to the woman came dashing down the slope after them. Once in the shelter of the rocks, Hawk eye turned and faced his pursuers. When they had almost reached his hiding place he gave a fierce yell and through his spear. It was a very well made spear with a bone barb on the end and it struck the leader of the wild tribe in the Thai. With a shriek of pain he fell to the ground. Then he seized the spear and pulled it out of his flesh. The wild tribe had no weapons but sticks and stones. They were tree dwellers. They did not even know the secret of fire. They lived upon roots and berries and nuts and such small game as they could catch with their hands or in snares. Their homes were root shelters in the trees. When they saw what had happened to their leader they were terribly frightened.

1:21:46They turned and ran for the trees leaving the wounded man on the ground. Hawk eye ran out from behind the rock picked up his spear and sent it flying off to the enemy. It struck another man. Howling with pain and fear he too dropped in his tracks. His companions ran faster than ever and when they reached the trees instantly swung themselves up by the branches and disappeared. Only now and then one could be seen swinging from tree to tree back into the deep forest like great monkeys. Hawk eye again ran after his spear. This time he pulled it out of the wounded man's flesh himself and left him rolling on the ground too much hurt to attack him or defend himself. Then Hawk eye ran back to the little group hidden behind the rock. Everything was now as quiet as if no one lived in the forest at all. There was not a single tree dweller in sight except the first wounded man and he was already crawling up as fast as he could up the bluff. In spite of everything Hawk eye and limberleg had held onto their meat and now they felt the need of food. They cut limberlegs

1:22:50to load into four great chunks and each took one. The eight as they walked they ran along past the place where the mammoths were feeding and then turned their backs on the river and plunged into the deep forest toward the east. The ground began to rise a little and Hawk eye said, if we keep on climbing in the direction of the rising sun we are bound to reach the blue hills at last. All that day they journeyed and that night they spent in a tree. The next morning found them still climbing. At last about noon of the second day they reached the crest of the range and climbed out upon the high balls summit of the highest hill. No one of them had ever seen what Hawk eye and limberleg in the twins now saw. There was the worlds spread out before them. They looked back far away in the blue distance toward the west and there they saw a little silver thread. That silver thread was their river. They looked toward the south and far far away they saw more water than they had ever dreamed there wasn't the whole earth. They didn't know what it was.

1:23:52They were not even sure that it was water. They had never heard of the sea. They stood silent and breathless with wonder and gazed at it. At last Hawk eye said in an all-structed turn. It's the end of the world. Let's go to the very edge and look over it said limberleg. Maybe we can find out where the sun hides during the darkness. You see what a brave woman she was. Then are these the blue hills? Asked fire top? They don't look blue a bit. The blueness is all around us though. Crytpire fly pointing down into the valley. And beyond the end of the world it's all blue too with sparkles on it. In the sky is blue. The only place that isn't blue is right around us. We will surely go through the blue country to get to the end of the world then. Said fire top. All this time Hawk eye had been standing on the highest point studying the view and choosing landmarks. He knew how to find his way through forests as well as we know the

1:24:54way to the post-opies. When he had the route all planned out he called the children and limberleg to his side. He pointed to the south. Do you see far away that little neck of land which leads out to the very end of the world? He said, we will keep the sun on this side of us the first half of the day and beyond the other side the other half of the day and we shall surely reach it. Then we shall see what lies beyond. Hawk eye led the way over the crust of the hill and down into the forest below. The twins and limberleg close behind him. All day they pressed on over hills through dense wooden across little streams keeping all the way to the south. At last they found a narrow neck of land which they had seen from the hill top. They camped at night in a tree near the water's edge and at nightfall of the second day after they climbed the last very mile and stood upon the great rocks at the end of the world. A stream of fresh water poured through a deep gorge beside them. To word the east and toward the west farther than their ice could see

1:25:59stretch the dark blue waters. To word the north they could look clear across the island to the distant shore of the mainland. We know now that they stood on the southern coast of the Isle of White and that the faint blue line across the water could someday be called France. But the twins and their father and mother thought that they stood on the very edge of the earth and looked out into mysterious regions which lay beyond. As they stood gazing the western sky flamed with red and gold and the sun sank out of sight behind a distant point of land. High up in the east the pale round disc of the moon hung in the deep blue of the sky. It was more wonderful than they had dreamed. Tomorrow if we wake early we shall see where the sun comes from. Siddh Limbeleg. They sat on the rocks and washed the stars come out and saw the moon sail away to the west. And then when they were too wary to stay awake longer they spread their schemes on the rocks and

1:26:59slept under the open sky with the boom of the surf for a little abay. End of chapter 5 Chapter 6 of the Cape Twins. This is a Librebox Recording. All Librebox Recording are in the public domain. For more information on to volunteer please visit Librebox.org. With the Amit's Gold Card you can earn 4 times points at US Supermarkets because the best nights in start with the grocery run that makes it happen. And when meals come with 4 times points moments around the table add up to even more. Apply today and find out your welcome

1:28:00offer which could be as high as 100,000 points. Learn more at americanexpress.com slash explored dash gold terms and points cap apply. The Cape Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins. Chapter 6. The earthquake. They slept so soundly that they did not hear the low, rolling sounds of thunder or see the moon go out of sight behind a black cloud. Even lightning did not rouse them but when at last the rain came splashing down over their bare skins they woke up. There was no shelter for them so they huddled together in a wet heap and waited for the rain to be over and for the morning to come. It was no gentle spring shower. The water poured down like a deluge. They were very wretched and firefly began to cry. Now see here the moonlight said to her, this water enough already. You needn't add your tears all we should all be drowned. The rain will be over in some time. It won't hurt you.

1:29:04When the lightning flash they could see the trees waving and bending in the wind and great breakers rolling up over the sandy beach. But the rain wasn't the worst that was to happen. After a while there came a strange shivering feeling in the rocks beneath them. It grew stronger and stronger till the whole earth shook and trembled. Hawkeye and Limberlake had felt earthquakes before but never one like this. It seemed as if the world were shaking itself to pieces. And they huddled closer together and clasped their arms round the twins. Oh shriek Limberlake the water gods are angry because we try to find out the secret of the sun. She and Hawkeye prayed to them at the top of their lungs. Sparras. Oh sparras they cried. As they prayed there came a long fearful cracking noise and the sound of falling rocks. It was as if the thunder had fallen to the earth and were rumbling round over it. A gigantic wave came roaring against the rocks as if it would dash them to pieces.

1:30:09The twins borrowed their hands in their mother's lap and shook almost as if they were having little earthquakes at their own. The great wave marked the crest of the storm. After that the winds grew gradually less violent, the rain ceased and the waves crept farther and farther away down the beach. The earth ceased its trembling, the clouds rolled away like great curtains and the thunder went grumbling off toward the west. When the great dawn came stilling over the wetter than the birds began to sing, Limberlake raised her head. Look she said, and listen the birds are singing. I thought the world had come to an end but it is still here and so are we. Then they all opened their eyes which they had kept shut for terror. A wonderful sight met them over the water toward the east the sky was blushing like a rose. Little pink clouds were hurrying away to lose themselves in the blue sky. Then the great fiery red disc of the sun rose

1:31:09slowly out of the water. They washed it in odd silence as it climbed higher and higher into the blue. Then, trembling again with fear, the little group of wachers prostrated themselves before it in a blind impulsive worship. When the sun was out of the water and up again in its regular place in the sky, all nature seemed so gay and joyous that the twins and their father and mother forgot the fears of the night and began to think about breakfast. They found it in the hollow of a rock far down the gorge. The giant wave which had so frightened them had left a fish flapping about in a little pool of water. When she saw it, Limberlake shouted, the water gods aren't angry after all. See, they have sent us a fine fish for our breakfast. Hawk I couldly climb down the steep rocks to the pool, caught the fish with his hands, killed it and brought it back to Limberlake in the twins. While they were eating it, Limberlake seemed to be thinking hard. She wasn't used to thinking

1:32:10and she screwed up her face almost as if it hurt her. At last she said, listen to me, we now know what no one else in the world knows. We have found out what lies beyond the blue hills. We have gone to the end of the world and have looked over the edge and have discovered the secret of the sun. We alone know that it hides beneath the waters during the darkness. There is no more for us to learn. Perhaps it would not be safe to know more, even if they're there more to know. Let us go home. There is more to be learned about the hunting, said Hawk I. We can find that out on our way back, said Limberlake. If there are going to be any more earthquakes, I'd rather be in the cave anyway, said Firefly. Besides, I don't like the rain pouring over me. It's as bad as falling in the river. Firetop said, I'd like to get back to tell square toes what I've seen. He's all the time telling about the wonderful things he can do. He's never seen the tree people not had an earthquake in his

1:33:13life. I guess I can make his eyes stick out. Hawk I said nothing but he picked up the wet skins, shook them, bound them with tongues, and tied them to the shoulders of the others. They each took his own weapons and they were ready to start. From the point where they had spent the night, it chain of hills ran back inland. They followed these hills to the north for some miles, and then still keeping to the hilltops turned toward the west. In the late afternoon, under Hawk I's skillful leadership, they came again to the place where they had crossed the Isthmus that connected them with the mainland. Hawk I was some distance ahead of the others when he came out upon the high blood that overlapped the channel and the Isthmus. Suddenly he stopped with the cry of astonishment and stood still, his eyes staring. Limbolegging the twins rushed to his side. What is the matter? They cried. For the answer, Hawk I only pointed. Before them, there was nothing but open water, a whole section of the neck of land which they had crossed only the day before

1:34:16had been swallowed up by the sea. Where it had been, a mile of blue water now sparkles in the sun. They were completely shut off from mainland. When she realized what had happened, Limbolegging sat heavily down on a log. The world is in the same after all, she cried. It's broken. What if it has sunk beneath the waters? Won't it ever get mended? Asked by a flight anxiously. Shun we ever get back to the cave then? Cryed Firedop. No, sob Limbolegging. You'll have to stay here till we die. Firefly whimpered a little and crept close to her mother on the log, but Firedop noticed that his father wasn't crying, so he swallowed several large lumps in this throat and sat up straight. For some time, they stayed on the bluff and looked down the steep pangs of broken earth and rocks into the deep water below. Great lads were floating about and huge trees approoted from the banks were lying with their tops in the water. And last,

1:35:20Limbolegging sat in a discouraged voice, well, what shall we do? The first thing to do, said Hawkeye, is to go down to the beach and see what we can find to eat. Beyond the steep cliffs on which they stood, there was a bay with a wide beach. Beyond the bay, great rocks extended in a chain out into the water. If you have been to England, you may have passed those very rocks. They're called the Needles. Hawkeye and Limbolegging the twins climbed down to the beach. They were so hungry that they were almost ready to eat sand and pebbles like chickens if they could find nothing else. But there was plenty of seaweed on the beach and they found little muscles clinging to it. They ate both the seaweed and the muscles as they walked along. See all the little holes in the sand, cried far atop when they were quite far out on the beach. Water spurred south of them every time I stepped. Let's dig down and see what does it, said Firefly. Maybe it's something good to eat.

1:36:24They took a large shell and scraped away the sand. They had never seen clams before and Firefly caught a thing of pinched. Hawkeye opened a shell and ate one. He smacked his lips and then he said, dig as many as you can while I make off fire. Our supper is right here. The twins worked like beavers while Hawkeye and Limbolegging made a drift to a fire far back on the beach in a sheltered place near the cliffs. Then Limbolegging made a better seaweed in the holes and put in the clams as fast as the children brought them up from the sand. They must have steamed at least half a bushel. They ate everyone and I'm quite sure this was the very first clam bake that anyone ever had in this world. As they rested beside the fire and after supper warmed and fed, they began to feel more cheerful. Hawkeye said, anyway, we shall never be hungry while we stay here. Perhaps we shall like it just as well as we liked our Fortest Cave. Then Limbolegging had a happy

1:37:25thought. Do you know, she said, I believe the water gods were loansome and are glad that we came. They don't want us to go away against and so they made the peace of land fall into the water to keep us here. Remember about that fish? I'm not afraid. I think they mean to take care of us. And that was such a comforting thought that they went to sleep and slept soundly all night beside their driftwood fire. End of chapter 6 Chapter number 7 of the Cave Twins. This is a Librebox Recording. All Librebox Recoddings are in the public domain. For more information out of volunteer, please visit Librebox.org. The Cave Twins by Lucy Pitch Perkins. Chapter 7. The Island. If I were to tell you all the things that the twins and their father and mother did on that island, it would make a book as big as a

1:38:26dictionary. So I can only tell you a very little about the wonderful days that followed. In the first place, they soon found out that it was a wonderful island. Small as it was, it had the most astonishing things in it. There were great cliffs and jagged rocks along its coast in some places and there were beautiful broad sandy beaches right next to them. With the Amet's Gold Card, you can earn 4 times points at US Supermarkets because the best nights in start with the grocery run that makes it happen. And when meals come with 4 times points, moments around the table add up to even more. Apply today and find out your welcome offer which could be as high as 100,000 points. Learn more at americanexpress.com slash explore dash cold terms and points cap apply. The waves had washed holes cleared through some of these great rocks and left them standing there like huge ruins. The beaches were covered with starfish

1:39:28and beautiful shells and seaweed and crabs and geolifation stones of all colors. The twins found something new every time they played there. Inland, there were hills and valleys with sparkling streams of clear water running through them. There were sunny open meadows where bison grazed. In the woods there were deer and small game of all kinds but though hawkye went everywhere in the days that followed the earthquake, he never saw a sign of a cave there or of tigers or lions or any of the more savage beasts which made life in their old homes so full of terror. Neither did he find a trace of any other human beings. This season was early on the warm southern side of the island. The wild fruit trees were already in blossom making the air sweet with fragrance and giving promise of fruit later on. There were all sorts of wild flavis and all kinds of trees in the woods and everything was so beautiful and seemed so safe that it was

1:40:29easy to believe as limberlake said that the water gods did mean to take care of them. One day when hawkye and limberlake had gone to your hunting, firetop and firefly climbed a high cliff on the east coast to hunt for pigeonzebs. From the top of the hill they could see for miles and miles in every direction. The cliffs were on a long point of land and behind the point was a deep bay where all sorts of things could be picked up when the tide was low. In a cleft of the rock, firetop found a nest with four eggs in it. He and firefly were sitting on the top of the hill, eating them when firefly saw a queer black spot partway down the cliff toward the east. What's that? She said, pointing. Let's go and find out, said firetop. Declaimed cautiously down to a lower level and worked their way through the bushes and vines which covered the sloping side of the bluff. It must be somewhere near here, said firetop, but I can't see it. It's hidden behind the bushes,

1:41:33whatever it is. Maybe it was a bear and he has moved. Said firefly, looking fearfully over her shoulder. Of course they could not be quite sure there were no such creatures on the hill end. Who said firetop? I'm not afraid. Come along. They hunted up and down in sideways for some distance along the bluff and were almost ready to give up when a branch that firetop was holding broke and he fell backward down the slope. He rolled over two or three times and when he stopped rolling and sat up he was looking directly into the mouth of a great dark cave. A lot of stones and dirt came tumbling down with him and with that in some noise that firetop made himself there was quite a disturbance. The cave was full of owls and when the stones and dirt and a boy dropped in on them suddenly they were very much surprised. No fewer than six of them flew out to the cave and as they were blinded by the light they pumped right into the pile. Those still in the cave flew about and beat their vines against the rocks. This made a terrible sound in the hollow

1:42:38cave and besides that they hooded. Firetop had never met an owl at such short range before and his red hair stood straight up on his head. He was so scared. He beat the owls off with his arms and yelled at the top of his lungs. Firefly heard him and came flunging through the bushes after him. In another minute she too had fallen through the same place and landed beside firetop. By the time they had picked themselves up the owls had flown to a shell from the rock and there they russied in a row, staring solemnly at the twins. They needed a move, nor spoke. Somehow the twins expected them to speak and say something very reproving. They looked just that way. The twins didn't wait to find out what it would be, however. They'd vent crashing through the bushes and back to the top of the rock as fast as they could. That afternoon when Hawkeye and Lumberlake came home bringing a young deer on their shoulders, the children told him about the cave and pointed it out from the top of the rock.

1:43:40Hawkeye had once threw down the deer and made a fire. Then he took a flaming torch in one hand and his spear in the other and started down the bluff. How did you get to the cave? He asked firetop. We went partway down the bluff in Felay, said firetop. Hawkeye laughed. Oh see if I can't find the better way, he said. He crept cautiously down the steep slope and we reached the cave. He held his torch about his head so as to lightly inside of it and with his other hand he held his spear ready to kill any wild animal that might be living in it. It was just a sort of cave where one might expect to find wolves at least. The owls came hooting out again just as they had when firetop visited them, but nothing else stirred and Hawkeye went bowly in. The cave was quite large and as it was in a chalk cliff it was white and clean except where the owls had made their nests. Hawkeye didn't like the look of the owls, he didn't like their staring ways. So he tore up their nests and threw them

1:44:46down the bluff. Then he came out to the cave and began to climb about on the slope as if he was searching for something. It was not long before he gave a shout to join backhand to Limboleg and the twins who were watching him eagerly. They came bounding down the hillside at once. Hawkeye met them at the cave entrance. Here's our home, he said pointing to the cave. Nothing could be better. I have found a spring of fresh water nearby. It is safer than any place we have ever found. Go in and see. Limboleg went in and looked all about. She was just as pleased with it as Hawkeye was. She didn't even say, let's see if we can't find another cave that suits us better. She just threw her dear skin down on the floor of the cave and laid her spear on one of the shelving rocks and began to live their right way. They always had their weapons with them, all of them. So there was nothing more to do but start a fire at the cave

1:45:46mouth and begin to get supper. It was just as easy as moving into a furnished flat. Hawkeye went back to the top of the hill and brought down the deer. He also brought some live fire brands from the fire he had kindled. With these he started a new fire at the cave mouth. While Limboleg cut up the meat and the twins broiled great pieces of it over the coals, Hawkeye took his stone axe and cut a rough path through the underbrush from the cave entrance to the spring and another to the hilltop. The paths were so hidden by tall weeds and bushes that they could run through them without being seen. When at last they sat down beside the fire at the cave entrance to eat their first dinner of roast venison in their new home, they felt as rich as. Well, it's really quite impossible to tell you just how rich they did feel. End of chapter 7 Chapter number 8 of the cave twins. This is a Libra box recording. All Libra box recordings are

1:46:49in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit Libra box.org. The cave twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins. Chapter 8. Derratt. When Libra like woke the next morning, the bright sunshine was pouring into the cave, lighting up the very farthest corner of it. The vines which overhung the entrance were waving in the breeze and their shadows were dancing galeam in the chalk floor. Limboleg sat up and looked out. From the door she could see miles and miles of open water. To the north were the shores of England. Below was a beautiful sandy beach and a little way from the shore there were rocks sticking out of the water. Goals were viewing and screaming about the rocks. Limboleg took the guard and went down the little green path to the spring for water. When she came back the others were still sleeping. So she crept out through the path to the hilltop and gathered sticks to replenish the fire. She was already broiling the venison

1:47:51when the others woke. At breakfast she said to Hawkeye, I believe I will stay in this cave today. It is such a lot of work to start a new fire every day and I can keep just one burning. Besides the twins must have new skins pretty soon. Those fox first they are now varying or getting shabby. I will cure the deer skin we brought home last night for them. We must get more skins said Hawkeye. We shall need them when the cold weather comes. I will get the meat and you can cook and cure the skins and tend the fire. Then Hawkeye went up hunting to be gone all day. The twins ran down to the beach and went in waiting. They were not so afraid of the water as they had been but they stayed near shore because they could see great fish tumbling about in the waves and they didn't know whether they ate children or not. Probably the fish didn't know either. They had never had any to try. Anyway the twins thought they would not find out what their tastes were in the matter and so they stayed near the shore or at least they meant to.

1:48:54Ever since the great storm there have been logs and broken tree branches floating about in the water and on this morning the twins found two of them bobbing about near the beach line. They were not very large and the twins thought it would be fun to play with them. They weighed it out and pulled them into work shore. Let's write on these the way we wrote that log in the river said firetop. Firefly was always ready to do whatever firetop did so she got us tried one and firetop mounted the other and the wind bouncing along through the water half floating and half walking on the sandy bottom. It was great fun but the long branches stuck in the sand and scratched their legs so they drew the logs nearer shore and tried to pull off the branches but some of them were too tough. We can twist them together sit firetop. That will keep them out of the way and maybe the logs won't roll so much. They twisted the branches of the two logs roughly together so they could not stick down into the water and then mounted their sea horses again and rolled away. They were delighted to find that now the logs behaved much better

1:49:57and they grew so bold that they ventured out into the deeper water. They had made a wonderful plating. All the morning they rolled the logs and when the tide began to come in they had the best time of all. It picked up a little raft and flowed to the children screaming the joy far up the beach on a long low rolling wave. Limbelegg had been so busy making a frame of sticks to stretch the deer skin on that she had paid no attention to the twins but when she heard their screams she came to the door of the cave and looked out on the beach. When she saw what they were doing she came running down the block. She ran so fast she was all out her breath but she gasped out. You nutty gallous children you must not do that anymore. Ever you will suddenly be eaten up by a big fish. Oh get drowned or maybe both. If you do the twins thought that their mother was very foolish and being cave twins and not knowing any better they said, oh mother we have been doing it all morning and never got drowned

1:51:02or eaten up once try to yourself and just see how easy it is. But Limbelegg was very unreasonable. She only said, if you do it again you know what will happen and started back up the bluff. When she was out of sight, Bright Up said, let's do it once more. She won't see us. This shows just how wicked and disobedient cave children could be. They pushed their raft out into the water and got on board. They were at the very farthest point from shore when suddenly Limbelegg came right out of the bushes and looked at them. When he saw how the twins were very much embarrassed. They thought perhaps they had better stay offshore a while. They reached their feet down and dug their toes in the sand. The tide was still coming in and in spite of all they could do it lifted them up and carried them right to where Limbelegg stood. She looked at them very sternly. She had a switch in her hand. She said, I told you what would happen.

1:52:04I shall have to punish you but it hurts me worse than it hurts you. I suppose that was the very first time any parent never said that. Then she began to use the switch on their bear legs. Perhaps you never have been switched on your vet bear legs so I'll explain that it hurts. Fight up and farflight didn't understand how it could hurt her more than it did them. However, they didn't say so. They just ran for the cave as fast as they could go. But I've already told you that Limbelegg could run faster than anybody and she kept right up with them all the way. When they were in the cave again, anyone passing by would certainly have taught from the sounds that a pack of wild cats lived there. At last, Limbelegg said to them, now you see, I will be minded. And then she made them sit still in a corner of the cave until she had finished the wooden frame and stretched the deer skin over it. I suppose that if she had been a reasonable and kind mother, she would have let them go on and get drowned or eaten up by a shark.

1:53:06But she wasn't and so they weren't. Or else you can very well see that this story would have had to end right here. When Hawkeye came home that afternoon with two live rabbits which she had sneered, the twins were so delighted with them that they forgot all about their troubles at the morning. Can we keep the rabbits alive? They begged, how can you keep them? So'd Hawkeye. They'll run away. We can tie them by their legs, set fire top. We can cut sticks and drive them down in the ground and keep the rabbits inside the sticks. Cried firefly, what will you cut them with? Ask Hawkeye. With your stern axe, firefly answered as quick as a wink. Hawkeye looked very solemn. Will you be sure to bring it back to the cave if I let you take my axe? He said, of course, cried the twins. It took the axe at once and rushed out to begin the fences sticks, while Hawkeye tied the rabbits by their hind legs to a little tree near the cave.

1:54:06When they finished the fence the next day I regret to say that the stern axe was nowhere to be found and it was three days before it turned up under a bush where they had cut the sticks. While the children were busy fencing in the rabbits, Limba like told Hawkeye a pal to rot. You can see it down there on the beach, she said. I really think it was very clever of them to make such a thing, but of course I didn't tell them so. Of course not, said Hawkeye. Now, wasn't that just like parents? Pretty soon. While Limba like was cooking supper, Hawkeye subbed down to the beach by himself and took a look at the raft. Then he dragged it down to the water and tried it himself. He tried it several times. He didn't say anything about it when he got back to the cave, but the twins saw how very clean his skin looked. And they nodded knowingly at each other. They had their suspicions. End of chapter 8 Chapter 9 of the Cave Twins

1:55:10This is the Librebox Recording. All the Brebox Recodins are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librebox.org. The Cave Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins Chapter 9 Disapprives What with fish and clams and crabs and paravincals and roots and game and berries and wildplums and all sorts of other good things to eat. As the summer came on, the twins and their father and mother began to grow fat. Limba leg didn't go hunting as she used to. There was no need of it now for Hawkeye could bring home more game than they needed. So she'd stayed by the cave and kept her thirth fire bright and cooked the food and cured the skins and looked up to the children. The twins kept the rabbits and fed them every day with fresh leaves and roots and by and by there were six baby rabbits in the cage too. We might make the cage larger and have more rabbits said Hawkeye and then in the winter we should always have plenty of fresh meat right at hand. What a good idea! said Limba leg. The children can feed them.

1:56:15Yes said Hawkeye if they don't forget it. I'll see that they don't forget it said Limba leg. The twins heard her say it. I think probably she will said far top. He had great confidence in his mother. Well what said Firefly? We'll see that we don't forget it said far top and they get striped. She did. By July they had a large enclosure fenced off and every so many rabbits in it. For K people they were now very rich. They had a fine cave home plenty of skins and plenty of food. Limba leg had made herself a good needle out of bone and had so nice soft deer skins into clothes for them. Already for cold weather. She had even made beautiful necklaces of shells her Firefly and herself. Once in her evening as they sat looking at the moon, Limba leg said, you see I was right about the water gods. There haven't been any more earthquakes and we have everything we want to eat and plenty of warm skins and a fine cave to live in. There's just one

1:57:17thing more I want. I don't care much for society but I should like more people to talk to. I wish Granny and the rest were here. Sit far top. I should like to show square toes our rabbits. And I should like to show Robin my necklace said Firefly. It's no use wishing. Sit far top. There's all that water. Hawkeye as usual said nothing but all the time he was thinking hard about the floating log that the twins had crossed the river on and a rough they made of the two floating trees. It was not long after this that Limba leg began to notice that though he was gone all day every day, Hawkeye often came home without game. One day she heard the sound of its stone axe as if he were cutting down a tree but she thought nothing more about it. After that she heard the sound of the axe every day for many days. It seemed to come from the baby behind the point of land. At last she said to him, what in the world are you doing with your axe? I hear such a pounding every day. Hawkeye did not tell her what he was making. He only said,

1:58:23maybe someday when I get it done you will see. The twins heard the axe too and they made up their minds they were going to find out what was going on. The next day as they were playing in their cave back of their bluff at low tide Firefly saw a little column of smoke rising out of the woods near the place where a small stream flowed into the bay. She also heard the axe. The sound seemed to come from somewhere near the smoke. She pointed the smoke out to firetop and the two children ran swiftly around the beach and up the little stream for a short distance. There they found Hawkeye. He was working away at the log of a good sized tree where she had cut down. He had made the log almost flat on one side by chipping off pieces with his axe and he had shaped the end a little. Now he was hollowing out the inside. He was doing this partly with his axe and partly by burning it. Hawkeye was working so busily he did not know that anyone was near him until firetop called out. What are you making father? Hawkeye stopped chopping. It's a secret he said.

1:59:26If I tell you you will tell. No we won't. Anyway there's no one to tell above mother said Firefly. She's just the one I want to keep it from. Said Hawkeye. It's a surprise. Oh well if it's a surprise of course we won't tell said Firetop. Do you know what it is or is it a surprise to you too? Ask Firefly. Maybe it is said Hawkeye. I'm not sure yet. When I get the inside of this log all cut out I'm going to see if it will float without rolling over. Maybe I can get in it and make it go where I want it to. If I can then all sorts of things may happen but you must not tell mother. Why? Ask Firefly. Wouldn't she let you play with it? Maybe not. Said Hawkeye. You better be careful said Firefly shaking her head or you know what will happen. Hawkeye left and went on shopping. Every day after that the twins followed their father to the little cove and washed in work. Every evening they nearly burst trying not to tell. One day when they went down to the cove

2:00:30they found their father taking out the last chips from the inside of the log. When the tag comes in it backs up into the stream said Hawkeye and the next time it does it I'm going to push the log into the water and then out into the bay. If it flows right side up I'm going for a ride. How will you push it asked Firetop? Are you going to let your legs hang over and hitches up along that way? I shan't need any titles to bite me to make me go anyway said Hawkeye. I'm going to push it with a pole. The pole was already in the log. The tag began to flow in. As soon as the water was deep enough Hawkeye pushed the log into the water. It floated of course. Hawkeye waited along the side it into deeper water. Then he undertook to get a board but he put his weight too much in one side. It rolled over and he rolled with it and went splash on its stomach right into the water. Firetop and Firepoint danced on the beach with Glee. Hawkeye got up all dripping

2:01:31wet and tried again. This time he stepped into the middle of the boat. He got safely in but he was still very tippy so he put sand in the bottom of it and made it heavier. Then he tried again. He was a proud moment when at last he took his pole and pushed off. I'm going to keep close to the shore and go around the point if I can. He said the children tore up the bank and over the hill to get back to the cave in time to see him coming. Lemmerlegged was leaving a very basket out of strips of bark and the children came racing into the cave. They were so excited they couldn't keep still. What in the world is the matter with you? Cryed Lemmerlegged last? You've been running to the edge of the bluff and bag again ever since you came in. What are you looking at? At that! At that! Shrieked Firetop pointing down to the water. There, coming close to the shore around the bend was Hawkeye in the very first boat that was ever made. In that part of the world at least. Lemmerlegged was so astonished that she couldn't speak. She dashed down the side of the

2:02:35bluff without stopping for the path and the twins came tumbling after her. Of course, Lemmerlegged got there first. She always did. And when the twins reached the water's edge, she was already in the boat with Hawkeye. She was certainly a brave woman. End of chapter 9 Chapter 10 of the cave twins. This is the Libravoxter Codding. All Libravoxter Codding are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org. The cave twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins. Chapter 10. The voyage. After Lemmerlegged had had arrived, the twins took a turn while the mother washed them from the shore. It's almost more fun than our logs. Set fires off any took his first ride. They played with the boat and tried all sorts of experiments with it and were so happy and excited that it grew dark and the moon came out before one of them so much has thought of anything to eat. For days and

2:03:36days after that Hawkeye worked on his boat. He found out all its tricks. He even found out that he could go in deep water if he paddled. He found it out first by using his hands for ores. Then he chopped out a clumsy flat paddle. Aldus took him some time but by mid-summer he had become quite expert with his clumsy craft. He could keep it right side up and make it go where he wanted it to at any rate. Sometimes he ventured out into the deep water around the gals rocks. One day he even rode all around them. He could look down in the water and see shoals of fish swimming about but he could not catch them. When he went back to the cave that day he said to Lemmerlegged, I have an idea. Why don't you weave a kind of net out of the leather thongs? I can fasten it in the water out by the rocks and catch fish in it. The water gods may like us very much as you say but they haven't been throwing any fish up on land for us since the earthquake so I'm going to try to catch some. To be sure, said Lemmerlegged, we snare rabbits? Why shouldn't we

2:04:38snare fish? They had made hooks that are bone and had caught river fish sometimes when they lived back in the forest but they had not brought any hooks with them on their journey. They had always been more used to hunting game than to fishing anyway. Now with a sea full of fish right at hand waiting to be caught they began to think more about it. If we could catch fish we should have more food right at hand than we could possibly eat without ever hunting at all. If we didn't want to said Hawkeye. After that, Lemmerlegged spent days and days tying leather thongs together in a coarse net while Hawkeye made bone fish hooks for himself and Lemmerlegged and the twins and passing them to long-fine strings of leather. By Hawkeye's talk I had taught the twins how to fish the strings were trout and he himself had learned how to fasten his net between two of the gold rocks and catch the fish that swam in deep water. There is nothing Hawkeye liked so much as going out in his boat. He went up and down the coast from miles and it was not long before he knew every little

2:05:38creek and inlet and bay on the eastern end of the island. At last one day in August he set to Lemmerlegged. I'm going to load the boat with food to last a few days and see if I can get over to the mainland. It is only a sharp distance across to the nearest point. I've been farther than that in my boat already but I'm afraid you'll be drowned, cried Lemmerlegged and then what shall we do? You can take care of yourselves, said Hawkeye. The children can already fish in the streams and there are the rabbits and the clams. You will not want for anything while I'm away. But we shall be long soon, cried Lemmerlegged and suppose you should never come back? But I shall come back, said Hawkeye. You'll see. Lemmerlegged knew it was useless to say any more and on the very next day she and the twins helped him load his boat with deer meat and wild plums and acorns and then Hawkeye put in his spear and his stone axe and hooks in line and got in himself. The three of them stood on the beach and watched him push off from their island and start

2:06:40across the channel to work the mainland. They watched him until the boat was a mere black speck in the distance. Then they trushed slowly back to their lonely cave. They're followed many times, she stays in nights. Lemmerlegged went back to hunting again. She took the twins with her and began to teach them to hunt like men. If anything should happen to me, you could take care of yourself if you knew how to hunt and trap as well as fish. She said, beside getting food for their daily needs, they began to store it for the brinter. They gathered knots by the bush hole and piled them in heaps in the corner of the cave. Whenever they were not sleeping or doing anything else, they were always gathering food for the fire. In this way, four long weeks went by. At last came a day when the wind was sharp and it seemed as if summer were nearly over. Lemmerlegged in the twins had gone down to the cave behind their bluff to get clams for supper. They had one of Lemmerlegged's baskets with them and had nearly folded with clams. They were out some distance from the beach line for the tide was low. Suddenly the water began to rise.

2:07:45The returning tide came in such a flood that they had to run as fast as they legs could carry them to get safely ashore. They had reached the bank and were just beginning to climb slowly up the bluff and they heard a shout behind them. Lemmerlegged was so startled that her knees gave way under her and she sat right down in the basket of clams. They looked across the cove and there, coming in with the tide was their own boat with brave hawk eye in it, waving his hands to them. They could see through other heads beside hawk eyes but neither Lemmerlegged nor the twins could tell whose heads they were. They left the basket of clams on the side of the bluff and tore down to the water's edge. As they came near the shore they saw Granny looking scared to death, sitting in the bottom of the boat and holding onto each side with all her might. Behind her were Blackbird and Squiratos. The moment the boat came near shore the two boys tumbled out of the back end of it nearly upsetting Granny and splashed through the shallow water to the shore. They putted firetop in the stomach and knocked in flat and spun firefly around in

2:08:47the sand to show how glad they were to see them. When I classed the prow of the boat, graded on the sand and Granny and hawk eye caught out the four children ran around them in circles like puppies screaming with joy. Lemmerlegged danced. Granny clapped her hands over her ears. When the noise had calmed down a little she seized firetop in firefly and shook them soundly. You little red-tetted wretches, she cried. Here you are alive and well and fast as rabbits and all this time I worried the heart nearly out of me wondering what had become of you. It had been such a long time since the spring morning when the twins had stolen a way out to the cave that at first they did not know what Granny was talking about. They had never thought how she missed a fell when she found out they were gone. Hawk eye laughed. I brought Granny back with me unpurpose to give you what you deserve, he said. She told me she was going to take a stick to you

2:09:48as soon as she saw you for playing such a trick on her. Just you wait until I get a stick! cried Granny. She looked fierce as she said it but the twins knew very well she was just as glad to see them as they were to see her. They seized her hands one on each side and began to pull her up the hill black bird and squirt those push from behind. Go along with you! screamed Granny holding back with all her might. I can't run so fast I'm over to breath! We'll run you then scream the children and they pulled and pushed until they got her panting and bruffles to the top of the hill. Hawk eye had drawn his precious boat high up on the beach out of the reach of the tide and he and the number light followed more slowly with the basket of clans. At the top of the hill the twins with black bird and squirt those stuffed into the hidden path that led to the cave just like my stiving down a mouse hole. Granny was left standing alone on the hilltop. She couldn't see what had become of the children. She could hear their voices and down the bluff she could see a

2:10:52thin column of smoke rising. She knew the cave must be there but she didn't know how to get to it. When Hawk eye and number light came up they took her with them through the little green alley that led to the cave. When they reached it the children had flung a great pile of dry sticks on the fire and the flames were leaping high in the air to welcome them. See cried number light even the fire dances with joy at your coming. She took Granny into the cave and showed her the piles of warm skins and the heaps of nuts and then she showed Granny how to cook clans. The twins had taken black bird and squirt those the very first thing to see the rabbits. They then came back for Granny and made her go and see them too and when everyone had seen everything there was to see it was dark and the number light had a real feast ready for them to eat. She had killed the deer the day before and so they had broiled venison seasoned with sea salt. They had clam steamed with seaweed and they had nuts and wild plums. When they had all stopped themselves full, limelikes had to hawk eye. Now tell us all about your journey.

2:11:58When you went away we watched you from the held up until you were a mere speck on the water. We knew nothing more of you until we heard your shout today. There were many very days between. They were not buried to me, said hawk eye. I reached the other shore in safety and then turned my boat toward the sunset. I kept the shallow water near the shore and followed the coast around the end of the point of land where we crossed when we came here. I knew Oliver must empty into the big water not far away and so I paddled up the first stream I found. I slept in the boat at night. The first night I was awakened by the howling of wolves but I had only to push my boat out into the stream. They would not follow me there. For two days I paddled upstream. The second day I began to see things that I knew and on the morning of the third I reached the river path just as Granny was coming down to water. Yes! Yes! Quiet, Granny! I thought I was dreaming! The boat frightened me. I thought hawk eye was dead and then I saw his spirit. I got to run to the cave. Did you think

2:13:02you were all dead? Has the number like? Yes, said Granny. I thought some cave bear or tiger had got you. You were always so bold and ventrous. And as for these worthless ones, she added padding far top on the head, hiding no whether they had gone with you or had stolen away into the woods and been eaten by your old sabertooth. Well, you see, cried limber like laughing. It pays to be bold and brave. When she said bold and brave, she looked right at howkeye. She thought he was the boldest and bravest man in the world. There aren't any sabertooth tigers on this island and there's plenty to eat every day. Didn't the others want to come to when you told them about it? She said to hawk eye. They all wanted to come, hawk eye answered, but the boat would not hold so many. So I stayed to show them how to make boats for themselves. Long arm and bigger and graveleaf are all at work on them now

2:14:03and they will come in the spring or summer if they get them done. Howled in of the way, as far top. I told them just how to follow the river and the coast and bird across, said hawk eye. They can't help finding the island and if they find the island they can't help finding us. I told them we were on the side where the sun rises out of the water. It had grown very dark as they talked. There was only firelight in the cave, but just then, limber like saw a bright streak on the edge of the water toward the east. Yuck, cranny, yuck! She cried pointing to it. We have to cover the secret of the sun and the moon. They both sleep in the water. The children and granny and hawk eye and limber like all washed together until the white streak grew brighter and stretched in a silver path across the water to the beach below. They saw the pale dusk of the moon slowly rise into the deep blue of the night sky and the stars ring down at them. I suppose no one else in the whole world knows the secret, said limber like solemnly. You see, this is the end of the world. You can't go

2:15:06any further. Except in my boat, said hawk eye. The spirits of the water have been good to us, said limber like we will not tempt them too far. If there are more secrets we will not try to find them out. Someday, said hawk eye. Someday I mean to go, but limber like would not let him finish. No, she's set putting her hand over his mouth. No, you're not going anywhere at all, ever again. You're going to stay right here with us and be happy. Len Wong. Long, long ago when the earth was young and time was not yet old, you're all the stars in the sky of your hung or the silver moon grown cold. When the clouds had sailed between the worlds were banned with fluttering wings, and over all the land they're curled, the fronds of growing things. When fishes warmed in all the seas and on the wooded shore, they roamed among the forest trees a million beasts so more.

2:16:06Then in the early morning time, called from the formless cloud, came man to start the very climb. From wild beast up to God. Oh, bravely did he dare and do, and bravely fight and die, or you today could not be you, and I could not be I. End of chapter 9. End of the cave twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins.