It was spring, thousands of years ago. Little boys snatched the April
violets, and with them painted purple stripes upon their arms and
faces. Then they played that enemies came.

"Be afraid!" shouted one, frowning; and he stamped his foot and shook
his fist at the play enemies.

"I am fine!" called the other; and he held his head high, and took big
steps, and looked this way and that.

The little brothers were named Thorn and Pineknot. Their baby sister
had no name. The children looked rough and wild and strong and glad.
The sun had made them brown, the wind had tangled their hair. Their
clothes were only bits of fox skin. Their home was the safe rock cave
in the side of the hill.

Near the children a little goat was eating the sweet new grass. She
was tied with a string made of skin. Thorn stroked her and, laughing,
said,

"Let us put the baby on the goat's back and see her run."

"Oh, that would be fun!" cried Pineknot, and he ran and untied the goat.

Laughing, Thorn put the baby on the goat's back. The little fingers
clung to the goat's hair.

Then Thorn struck the goat and shouted, "Run!"