Red-Eye paid no further attention to me, and I was at liberty to whimper and sob to my heart's content.
Several of the women gathered curiously about me, and I recognized them.
I had encountered them the preceding year when my mother had taken me to the hazelnut canyons.
But they quickly left me alone, being replaced by a dozen curious and teasing youngsters.

They formed a circle around me, pointing their fingers, making faces, and poking and pinching me.

I was frightened, and for a time I endured them, then anger got the best of me and I sprang tooth and nail upon the most audacious one of them--none other than Lop-Ear himself.

I have so named him because he could prick up only one of his ears.

The other ear always hung limp and without movement.