How Sharptooth Spent the Night
It was now almost dark.
The wild cattle had reached the grassy upland.
They were feeding on the fresh grass.
Sharptooth had watched them out of sight, and now she was getting sleepy.
She could see nothing but dim shadows, but she could hear all sorts of sounds.
Wild animals were coming out of their dens.
Most of them had slept during the day, but now they were wide awake.
The upper part of the river valley
Hippopotamuses were snorting and blowing.
They were splashing in the water.
They were crashing through the underbrush along the banks.
Straight-tusked elephants were trumpeting and bellowing.
Lions were roaring.
The hunted animals were seeking a place of refuge.
Sharptooth was used to these sights and sounds.
She felt safe in the old oak tree.
She tied herself to a strong branch and soon was fast asleep.
She slept all through the long night.
Many of the wild beasts, too, were soon asleep.
Some of the hunted creatures found places of refuge.
Some beasts of prey were soon satisfied.
Then they stole back to their dens and slept.
But all of the wild animals did not fare so well.
“Hippopotamuses were snorting and blowing”
Not all of the hunted creatures found places of refuge.
Not all of the beasts of prey found food.
Some beasts of prey hunted all through the night and were still hungry when morning came.