“David,” he said, “perhaps I have done wrong. I have hoarded my ration of food, eating only half of it.”
“It was yours to do with as you wished,” said David. “We shall not take it from you.”
“I do not want it,” said Hodon. “I saved it for O-aa, and now she needs it.”
O-aa looked up and smiled. “I hoarded mine too, Hodon,” she said. “I saved it for you. Here it is.” She took a little package of food wrapped in the large leaves that grew over the mouth of the cave and handed it to Hodon.
David walked to the mouth of the cave and looked out down the little canyon; but everything was blurred, as though he were looking through a mist.
Hodon knelt beside O-aa. “A woman would do that only for the man she loved,” he said.
O-aa nodded and crept into his arms. “But I have not killed Blug,” said Hodon.
O-aa drew his lips down to hers.
“What will your brother and sister say?” asked Hodon.
“I have no brother or sister,” said O-aa.
Hodon held her so tight that she gasped for breath.
Presently the mist cleared, and David could see quite plainly. He saw sabertooths who had been outside the canyon running in. They were jabbering excitedly. Then he saw human warriors approaching, warriors who carried muskets. There were many of them. When the sabertooths charged them, they were mowed down by a ragged volley. The noise was terrific, and clouds of black smoke filled the mouth of the canyon.
At the noise of the muskets, O-aa and Hodon ran to the mouth of the cave.
“Ghak has come,” said David. “Now everything is all right.”
It was well that he was to have a brief interlude of happiness before he returned to Sari.