But in Umpl's day there was only one thing more dangerous than the
hunt for the Cave Bear. There was but one game which made a young man
think, and plan, and contrive as never before to come out ahead. There
was but one which brought him so much honour when he won, or which
cost so much when he lost, and which he thought was for that reason so
well worth playing, and that game was--the hunt for the Cave Man.

Very cunning was he. His club was heavy, his flint-edged spear was
sharp. The young man who went hunting for him without first studying
hard and learning from his elders as much as they could tell him was
more than likely never to come back at all. Perhaps for that very
reason there were not so many lads in those days as there are now who
think that they "know it all" without study.

But Umpl did really know it all, for the very good reason that he had
been a Cave boy himself not so very long before. So when he went out
from that village at the head of his men one fine day, while the sun
was shining brightly and the birds were singing, he did not neglect a
single one of the many things which he had been told would bring good
luck to his hunting. Every arrow was as perfect as it could be made,
from feather to point. Every head of flint or bone had been tested to
make sure that it was firm. Each young man had his own little sack
full of bread ready baked, so that no fire by its smoke need betray
them; while as to the danger because they had no fire--why, that was a
part of the game. Lastly--but in Umpl's eyes the most important of
all--they carried, as of old, in a sling, the Iron Star. Surely this
was not the time to leave that good-luck-bringer at home, so Umpl
reasoned. Thus the Star once more set out upon its travels.