The Cave Boy of the Age of Stone

by Margaret A. McIntyre

[Illustration: Throwing a spear]

"Strongarm's eye is best!" the others shouted. "His arm is strongest!"

After that a young man cried, "I have flying feet! Who will run with me?"

"I will!"

"I will!"

And young men ran out and stood beside him, and all the people watched.

The race started. The young men ran lightly, like deer. They skimmed the ground like swallows. Some of them ran all the way side by side, and came in together sweating and panting.

The people clapped their hands and said laughing, "They are good cave men; they can both fight and run away."

By this time the meat was roasted. The women pulled it from the holes with long sticks, and the people took great pieces in their hands and ate them, and then took more.