When Strongarm came with the coals, the cave was already warm and light
and full of the smell of good things cooking. He looked at the fire
and wondered where it had come from, but said nothing.

Near the fire his wife had a basket lined with clay. In it were the
seeds of the wild grains and acorns, with hot coals. She shook the
basket around and around until the seeds were roasted. Then from the
ashes she pulled the roots she had put there to roast.

After Strongarm had eaten, he lay down by the fire. Nodding toward it
he said, "Where did you get it?"

Flint then told him that he had brought it out of stones. Strongarm
sat up and looked hard at Flint. Then Flint had to strike the stones
together again, to let Strongarm see the fire come out.

"Beaver Tail, an old ax maker, showed me how to do it," said Flint.
"He has worked in stone all his life. For a long time he has known
that fire lives in stone. He has seen sparks fly as he chipped his
axes. One day in making a spear head, he struck a quartz pebble with
his flint hammer stone. A big spark came! He struck again and again,
and the sparks came fast and caught the dry grass at his feet!"

"Um," grunted Strongarm, wondering. He thought for a long time; then
he looked at Flint and said, "Fire lives in wood, too! My ax handles
grow warm as I rub them."

The boys listened in wonder to their grandfather's strange story of the
making of fire.