Pic at Sha Pell
“He was vexed with Grun Waugh,” Wulli now put in. “Grun Waugh called him an Ape Boy—a little tree-beast without a tail, hiding in a man’s skin.”
For an instant, Pic glared at the Rhinoceros, then replied scornfully:
“Agh-h! I know now what the name means. None but enemies would so speak of me. But not because of that did I leave the Rock. It was to help him of whom the Hyena spoke—an old man living alone, sick and blind, in the grotto of Sha Pell. Cave-men will have none of a leader grown old and feeble. This one, their chief, was cast out to die. He came here and then—I came too. He was very sick. I took care of him. Then the Cave Beasts set upon us and I dared not leave him alone to hunt food and water and gather wood for my fire. This man is my father——”
“Father?—Good!” the Mammoth grunted approvingly. “Friends should ever help each other. But are you sure he was your father? I cannot see how you remembered him. I could not have done it. Perhaps I never had a father. Had you, Wulli?”
The Rhinoceros cocked his head and looked thoughtfully at the ground.
“Father? Oo-wee! I do not remember that I ever had one. I would not know him even if I saw him.”
“But I know mine,” said Pic. “He was my good friend too or I would never have come here to help him.”
“Where is he now?” asked Hairi gazing up and down the hillside.