THE PRIMITIVE MAN When Henry came back to his world he was lying upon the ground, with his head against a log, and about him was a circle of brown faces, cold, hard, expressionless and apparently devoid of human feeling; pity and mercy seemed to be unknown qualities there.

But the boy met them with a gaze as steady as their own, and then he glanced quickly around the circle.

There was no other prisoner and he saw no ghastly trophy; then his comrades had escaped, and, deep satisfaction in his heart, he let his head fall back upon the log.

They could do now as they chose with him, and whatever it might be he felt that he had no cause to fear it.
Three other warriors came in presently, and Henry judged that all the party were now gathered there.

He was still lying near the river on whose banks he had been struck down, and the shifting clouds let the moonlight fall upon him.