kindly folk when left to themselves. Their awe-inspiring size,

terrific strength, mighty fighting-fangs, and hideous appearance

are but the attributes necessary to the successful waging of their

constant battle for survival, and well do they employ them when

the need arises. The only flesh they eat is that of herbivorous

animals and birds. When they hunt the mighty thag, the prehistoric

bos of the outer crust, a single male, with his fiber rope, will

catch and kill the greatest of the bulls.

Well, as I was about to say, I had this little shelter at the edge

of my melon-patch. Here I was resting from my labors on a certain

occasion when I heard a great hub-bub in the village, which lay

about a quarter of a mile away.

Presently a male came racing toward the field, shout-ing excitedly.

As he approached I came from my shelter to learn what all the

commotion might be about, for the monotony of my existence in the

melon-patch must have fostered that trait of my curiosity from

which it had always been my secret boast I am peculiarly free.

The other workers also ran forward to meet the mes-senger, who quickly

unburdened himself of his informa-tion, and as quickly turned and

scampered back toward the village. When running these beast-men

often go upon all fours. Thus they leap over obstacles that would

slow up a human being, and upon the level attain a speed that

would make a thoroughbred look to his laurels. The result in this

instance was that before I had more than assimilated the gist of

the word which had been brought to the fields, I was alone, watching

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