The Hyena was the first to observe their approach. Skulking behind the others as was his custom and interested only in seeing that his line of retreat was kept open, he espied the oncoming pair and gave the alarm. With a howl of terror, he dashed off in the opposite direction and thus gave warning to his companions.
The Cave Beasts faced about like a flash. In their blind rage at finding themselves interfered with, matters looked dark for a moment. The Mammoth and Rhinoceros came grimly on, shoulder to shoulder like a pair of trained gladiators. Except for the Hyena now rapidly disappearing, the Cave Beasts, in their turn held firm.
But Hairi and Wulli were not to be denied. They meant business; not the wild hit-or-miss variety but the plain step-up-and-have-it-out kind. Even Grun Waugh found himself unequal to such a cold-blooded way of doing things. He stepped back. This was the signal for a general retirement. His companions abandoned their attack upon the Ape Boy and retreated along the hillside, followed by the Lion who never ceased snarling with baffled hate at being thus forced to give ground. At last with a parting screech he turned tail and crawled rapidly away after his more timid companions. As he disappeared in the thicket, Hairi called a halt:
“Enough; we may fall into an ambush and spoil all.”
So the pair turned back to the Ape Boy who was staring at them almost overcome with astonishment.
“Whoow!—where did you come from?” he finally managed to stammer.
“We came to see what all the noise meant,” Hairi replied. “Oomp! It is well for you, we did.”
“You arrived at just the right time,” said Pic. “A little later and you would have found Grun Waugh gnawing my bones.”
“Why did you leave us on the Rock without saying a word?” Hairi grumbled. “You have given us much worry and trouble.”