they never saw before, with long smooth horns and shaggy, black hair.
In among them wild pigs were grunting around a man who was feeding
them, and this looked like witchcraft. Why did not the animals kill
him instantly? They had met wild pigs in their old valley and held
them in great respect as fighters. What kind of men were these who
ruled such savage beasts? And was that a wolf, stealing toward them,
and giving warning with that barking howl?

There were lively doings in that village when that howl went up. On
the whole, it was well for Umpl and his party that Sptz was with them.
Breaking a green branch, she went forward in advance and spears were
slowly lowered. Someone was found who could speak a few Cave-Men
words, and all could use sign language; so the case was explained and
Umpl welcomed. The Star was given a special welcome and a hut all to
itself.

Nothing in all their lives had seemed more curious to Umpl and Sptz
than those huts. They were made of twigs and reeds wattled into
basketwork, and then clay plastered over all until they were water
tight, and they were perched on logs driven into the bottom of the
lake like piles. There were clay things on the fires, too, and by the
smell they knew that some good cooking was going on; but never before
had they seen a pot that would hold water or stand fire.

On the other hand, Umpl was looked at with much respect by the Lake-
Dwellers (as we now call those people). He was taller than they by
half a head. The tooth bracelet told its own tale, for they, too, knew
the Cave Bear. So they made him presents, and of value, one of the
choicest being a knife of copper. This was a great wonder to Umpl and
his people. A knife which would not break, as their flint ones did,