The Tree-Dwellers Part 9

Perhaps you have seen the zebra.

If you have, you must have noticed its stripes.

The first horse-like creatures were probably striped in much the same way.

These animals never ate hay and oats; and, at first, they did not eat much gra.s.s.

There was little, if any, gra.s.s at that time.

These horse-like creatures lived on marshes and in swamps bordering streams and lakes.

They probably ate stems and leaves of plants that grew on the marshy lands.

They did not run as horses do to-day, but they plodded along on the soft ground.

They spread out their toes as they walked along, so as to keep from sinking.

When the dry land began to be covered with gra.s.s, little by little they left the marshes.

They went to the gra.s.sy highlands to live, and became more and more like horses.

Some of the cat-like creatures went to the highlands, but they did not go for the gra.s.s.

They were becoming more and more like tigers, and they went to hunt the wild horses.

The timid horses ran when their enemies came, for there was no place in which to hide.

When they ran they stepped on the tips of their toes.

They used the third toe so much more than the others that it became larger and larger.

Its hoof became hard and strong.

The first and fifth toes were used so little that after thousands of years they disappeared.

Meanwhile the horses had learned to run fast.

When a pack of wolves chased them, they galloped away.

They found rich gra.s.s on the highlands.

Colts grew to be larger than their mothers.

By the time they were as large as ponies they used only the third toe.

Two side toes hung like the dew-claws of a dog, but they did not reach the ground.

When the Tree-dwellers lived, little bones beneath the skin were all that was left to show where the side toes had been.

The hoof had become round and hard.

The wild horses ran very fast.

They outran all other creatures.

When surprised, they struck hard blows with their hoofs, and they bit with their sharp teeth.

But if there was a chance to get away, they always ran when they were attacked.

THINGS TO DO

_Name all the animals you know that can climb trees. What kind of feet do they have?_ _Name all the animals you know that have hoofs. Tell all you can about these hoofs._ _Notice the foot of a horse, a cow, a dog, or a cat, and model it in clay._ _What pet do you have that is like a wolf?_

XVIII.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

What tools do you know how to use?

What do you use them for?

How do you think that people did their work before they had tools?

What tools do you think the Tree-dwellers needed?

How do you think they learned to make them?

_How Bodo Learned to Make Tools and Weapons_

Bodo did not have any tools or weapons.

n.o.body knew how to make them.

But he had learned to use his hands.

He used them to catch small animals.

He knew how to creep up softly.

He knew how to wait patiently.

He knew just when to grasp the animal.

Bodo used his hands to gather berries and nuts.

He used them to pull up roots.

He used them to rake the acorns together.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "_Sometimes Bodo threw stones_"]

He used them to scoop small things up from the ground.

Bodo knew how to strike with his fists.

He knew how to kick with his feet.

Sometimes he threw stones.

Sometimes he threw sticks.

Sometimes he struck with a stick in his hand.

He could strike harder blows with a stick than he could when he struck with his fist.

Sometimes it hurt him when he struck with his fist.

It did not hurt him when he struck with a club.

Bodo had many enemies.

He had to take care of himself.

He felt safer when he had a club in his hand.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _The stick Bodo used_]

THINGS TO DO

_Show what Bodo used for a rake._ _Show what he used for a scoop._ _Show how he caught wild animals._ _Draw a picture of Bodo catching a squirrel._

XIX.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Have you ever used a hammer?

What are our hammers made of?

How do you think people learned to make hammers?

Why did Bodo need a hammer?

What do you do with your knife?