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Now arose in the mind of the woman the idea of furthering the fulfilment of the shadowy prediction, or of
using the myth at least for her own restoration to her husband. For what seemed more probable than that the
fate foretold lay with these very children? They were marvellously brave, and the Bulikans cowards, in abject
terror of animals! If she could rouse in the Little Ones the ambition of taking the city, then in the confusion of
the attack, she would escape from the little army, reach her house unrecognised, and there lying hidden, await
the result!
Should the children now succeed in expelling the giants, she would begin at once, while they were yet
flushed with victory, to suggest the loftier aim! By disposition, indeed, they were unfit for warfare; they
hardly ever quarrelled, and never fought; loved every live thing, and hated either to hurt or to suffer. Still,
they were easily influenced, and could certainly be taught any exercise within their strength!−−At once she
set some of the smaller ones throwing stones at a mark; and soon they were all engrossed with the new game,
and growing skilful in it.
The first practical result was their use of stones in my rescue. While gathering fruit, they found me asleep,
went home, held a council, came the next day with their elephants and horses, overwhelmed the few giants
watching me, and carried me off. Jubilant over their victory, the smaller boys were childishly boastful, the
bigger boys less ostentatious, while the girls, although their eyes flashed more, were not so talkative as usual.
The woman of Bulika no doubt felt encouraged.
We talked the greater part of the night, chiefly about the growth of the children, and what it might indicate.
With Lona's power of recognising truth I had long been familiar; now I began to be astonished at her practical
wisdom. Probably, had I been more of a child myself, I should have wondered less.
It was yet far from morning when I became aware of a slight fluttering and scrambling. I rose on my elbow,
and looking about me, saw many Little Ones descend from their nests. They disappeared, and in a few
moments all was again still.
"What are they doing?" I asked.
Lilith
"They think," answered Lona, "that, stupid as they are, the giants will search the wood, and they are gone to
gather stones with which to receive them. Stones are not plentiful in the forest, and they have to scatter far to
find enow. They will carry them to their nests, and from the trees attack the giants as they come within reach.
Knowing their habits, they do not expect them before the morning. If they do come, it will be the opening of
a war of expulsion: one or the other people must go. The result, however, is hardly doubtful. We do not mean
to kill them; indeed, their skulls are so thick that I do not think we could!−−not that killing would do them
much harm; they are so little alive! If one were killed, his giantess would not remember him beyond three
days!"
"Do the children then throw so well that the thing MIGHT happen?" I asked.
"Wait till you see them!" she answered, with a touch of pride. "−−But I have not yet told you," she went on,
"of a strange thing that happened the night before last!−−We had come home from gathering our fruit, and
were asleep in our nests, when we were roused by the horrid noises of beasts fighting. The moon was bright,
and in a moment our trees glittered with staring little eyes, watching two huge leopardesses, one perfectly
white, the other covered with black spots, which worried and tore each other with I do not know how many
teeth and claws. To judge by her back, the spotted creature must have been climbing a tree when the other
sprang upon her. When first I saw them, they were just under my own tree, rolling over and over each other. I
got down on the lowest branch, and saw them perfectly. The children enjoyed the spectacle, siding some with
this one, some with that, for we had never seen such beasts before, and thought they were only at play. But by
degrees their roaring and growling almost ceased, and I saw that they were in deadly earnest, and heartily
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