Bolo the cave boy

by Katharine Atherton Grimes

The boys came cautiously nearer. They were not afraid of Flame, but they were not sure what might happen next. And they were very curious to hear what she was saying. By and by Flame turned and saw the boys. She beckoned them to come nearer.

“The Water-god is great,” she said in a solemn voice, “but greater is the Fire-god. He has spoken to me from his dwelling place, the sun. He has promised that we shall have the Great Fire again. But,” she added slowly, “I am old and my strength has grown small. I must have help. You must help me.”

How proud the boys were! Gladly they ran at her bidding to bring the driest sticks they could find. It was hard to discover many, for the long rain had soaked everything through and through. But they climbed into the trees and broke off dead limbs that had become partially dried out again, and they broke open rotten logs to get the dry, crumbly wood that lay at their hearts. It was not very long until they had brought together a nice supply of dry sticks and light, tindery wood.

Flame was on her knees again when they came back, and now they could see what she was doing. She had a long, pointed, hardwood stick in her hands and was twirling it very fast in a little hollow in a flat block of soft, dry wood. While she worked she mumbled to herself, now and then looking up at the sun and speaking as if to the god that she said lived in it. The boys stood very still and watched her.

Flame worked a long time. Then she threw down the pointed stick and wrung her hands.

“I am too old,” she wailed. “No more are my hands strong to bring the Fire-god to help my people. Oh, woe is me! woe is me!”

Bolo came up timidly and touched her shoulder. He held out both hands, opening and shutting his wiry brown fingers.

“My hands are very strong,” he said. “Let them be as your hands and twirl the stick while you speak to the Fire-god.”

Then Fisher spoke up eagerly. “Do you not remember the game we play with the stick and the strap? Do you remember how very fast we can make it go? Let us both twirl the stick with the strap while Flame speaks to the Fire-god.”

So Fisher brought a flat, strong strap made of reindeer hide and wrapped it around the stick. Then he and Bolo took hold of the ends and drew them back and forth.