It was loud and threatening, but not the yell
of their own kind.
There had come sweeping down the valley the victors in the fight at the
Eastern end. Ab, with the lust of battle fully upon him as he heard the
wild shriek of Moonface, who had seen her husband fall, was a creature as
hungry for blood as any beast of all the forest, and his followers were
scarce less terrible. Swift and dreadful was the encounter which
followed, but the issue was not doubtful for a moment. The barrier's
living defenders became as wild themselves as were these conquering
allies. The fight became a massacre. Flying hopelessly up the valley, the
remnant, only some twenty, of the Eastern cave men ran into the vacant
big cave for refuge and there, barricaded, could keep their pursuers at
bay for the time at least.
There was no immediate attack made upon the remnant of the assailants who
had thus sought refuge. They were safely imprisoned, and about the cave's
entrance there lay down to eat and rest a body of vengeful men of twice
their number. The struggle was over, and won, but there was little
happiness in the Fire Valley which had been so well defended.
Moonface, wildly fighting, had seen her husband's death. With the rush of
Ab's returning force which changed the tide of battle she had been swept
away, shrieking and seeking to force herself toward the rock whereon old
Hilltop had so well demeaned himself.
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