The Project Gutenberg EBook of B. C. 30,000, by Sterner St. Paul Meek

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Title: B. C. 30,000

Author: Sterner St. Paul Meek

Release Date: October 21, 2008 [EBook #26989]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustration: _With a roar, the apemen charged._]

B. C. 30,000

By Capt. S. P. Meek

Back in the dim dawn of civilization
Anak the Hunter stands in his might
before the encroaching Neanderthal
men.

A scream of rage split the darkness. From the side of the fire where the
women sat darted Esle, the High Priestess, a bloody bit of liver in her
hand. Following her, and snarling like an enraged cat, came one of the
maidens of the tribe. The aged hag, Esle, whose duty it was to declare
to the tribe the will of Degar Astok, the mighty one who dwelt in the
heavens and sent the storms to enforce his will, came to a pause before
Uglik, the Chief and tribal Father.

"Una was eating of the man's piece," she shrilled as she held the
fragment aloft.

Uglik dropped the thigh bone from which he had been ripping the meat in
huge chunks. He took the liver from Esle and examined it.

"Bring me my spear!" he roared as he lunged forward and grasped Una by
the hair. "Una has stolen that which is tabu to her and I will punish
her."

Una moaned with fright but attempted no resistance. Uglik grasped his
spear and raised it over his head.

"Hold, Father!" came a clear voice from the group of hunters who sat
near the chief.

Uglik paused in amazement at the interruption. Anak, the Chief Hunter,
rose to his feet and made a step forward.

"She stole it not," he said. "Anak, the Chief Hunter, gave it to her."

Uglik released the girl and stared at the hunter in surprise. Anak
returned the stare coolly and Uglik raised his throwing-spear
threateningly. Anak did not let his gaze wander from the Father's, but
his grasp tightened ever so slightly on the sharp flint smiting-stone
which he had taken from the skin pouch which dangled from his leathe