"I do hate that part of it, but I guess it's
worth it. Come on. Let's climb this tree."

The children could climb like monkeys, but they had their weapons and
the meat and that made it a little difficult. They leaned their spears
against the trunk of the tree, took the meat in their teeth, and up they
went as easily as you could go upstairs. Then they hid themselves in a
fork of the tree and ate their breakfast.

The thick branches made a screen around them so they could see without
being seen. They watched the cave. It was not long before they saw
Grannie come out and take a look at the weather. Then she put more fuel
on the fire and sat down on a rock to gnaw a bone for her breakfast.

Soon Hawk-Eye and Limberleg appeared. They each had their weapons, and
a reindeer-skin strapped by leather thongs across their shoulders.
Limberleg had a gourd tied to her belt. They were each gnawing bones,
too. They stopped to speak to Grannie. The Twins leaned forward and
listened with all their ears. They heard Hawk-Eye say, "The children
are still asleep. You can tell them when they wake up."

Then they came along the path, eating as they came. They passed almost
under the tree where the Twins were hiding. This seemed to the Twins so
funny that they stuffed their mouths full of meat and then clapped their
hands over them to keep from laughing aloud. As it was, a little
snicker ran out between Firefly's fingers. Hawk-Eye heard it.

"What's that?" he said sharply. He and Limberleg stopped a moment and
listened.

"Nothing but a squirrel," said Limberleg. "There he is on that log over
there."

The Twins nearly smothered themselves then, to keep the laughs in.

Hawk-Eye and Limberleg passed on down the path to the very edge of the
forest. There they turned and walked along the bluffs, where they could
swing themselves into a tree at a moment's notice. This was safer than
walking in the green meadows beside the river where there were no trees
to climb.

Firetop and Firefly waited until they were out of sight around the turn.
Then they crawled down from the tree, took their spears in their hands,
and ran after them. They stayed back far enough so they could hide
behind trees if Hawk-Eye or Limberleg should turn round, yet near enough
to keep them in sight.

For miles and miles they walked and ran. It was hard with their short
legs to keep the pace set by their father and mother, but they knew very
well