It was Ab who first broke the silence:
"Who are you?" he said.
"I am Oak," responded the other boy. "Who are you?"
"Me? Oh, I am Ab."
"Where do you come from?"
"From the cave by the beeches; and where do you come from?"
"I come from the cave where the river turns, and I am not afraid of you."
"I am not afraid of you, either," said Ab.
"Let us climb down and get upon that big rock and throw stones at things
in the water," said Oak.
"All right," said Ab.
And the two slid, one after the other, down the great tree trunks and ran
rapidly to the base of a huge rock overtopping the river, and with sides
almost perpendicular, but with crevices and projections which enabled the
expert youngsters to ascend it with ease. There was a little plateau upon
its top a few yards in area and, once established there, the boys were
safe from prowling beasts. And this was the manner of the first meeting
of two who were destined to grow to manhood together, to be good
companions and have full young lives, howbeit somewhat exciting at times,
and to affect each other for joy and sorrow, and good and bad, and all
that makes the quality of being.
CHAPTER V.
A GREAT ENTERPRISE.
What always happens when two boys not yet fairly in their 'teens meet, at
first aggressively, and then, each gradually overcoming this apprehension
of the other, decide upon a close acquaintance and long comradeship?
Their talk is firmly optimistic and they constitute much of the world.
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