He was to say that the drawbridge must not be put down for several days, for they were afraid the Bear people might enter their village.
As the chief’s son entered the hut where he was to leave his message, he saw a little baby.
The baby was tied by a long cord to one of the blocks of wood to keep her from falling through the trap-door.
He told the baby’s father what the chief had said and then went toward the child, who stretched out her little hands to him.
Lodrix loved babies and was glad to play with this little one.
He took her to the trap-door, keeping tight hold of her hand. Then he took a basket made of rushes and lowered it, through the opening, into the lake.
The baby clapped her hands with glee as she saw the little fish squirming in the basket when Lodrix drew it up.
Lodrix laughed, too, because the little baby was happy.
The baby’s sister, who sat grinding grain in the stone mortar, looked up and smiled at the happy children.