But I ran faster!"

"It is father coming from the hunt," said Thorn, jumping to his feet.

"He is bringing wild horse meat. Good, good!" cried Pineknot.

Thorn threw the baby on his back, and together the boys ran into the
forest to meet their father.

The forest--oh, it was beautiful! The trunks of the old trees were big
and rough and mossy. And there were tall ferns and gray rocks and
little brooks, and there was a sweet smell of rotting leaves.

"The wild horse ran very fast,
But I ran faster!"

still sang the young hunter, shaking his red hair gaily. He was not
tall, but his legs were big, for he ran after the wild horse and deer
and ox. And his arms were big, because he threw a great spear and a
stone ax. His name was Strongarm.

[Illustration: Strongarm]

The boys came running up to their father. They pointed to the meat on
his shoulder, and laughed and shouted and clapped their hands.

"We shall not go hungry to-day!
We shall not go hungry to-day!"

they sang as they danced along.