Page:The Cave Girl - Edgar Rice Burroughs.pdf/175



first thing that Thandar did after he entered the village was to seek out Nadara’s father.

They found the old man in the poorest and least protected cave in the cliff side, exposed to the attack of the first prowling carnivore, or skulking foeman.

He was sick, and there was none to care for him; but he did not complain. That was the way of his people. When a man became too old to be of service to the community it were better that he died, and so they did nothing to delay the inevitable. When one became an absolute burden upon his fellows it was customary to hasten the end—a carefully delivered blow with a heavy rock was calculated quickly to relieve the burdens of the community and the suffering of the invalid.

Thandar and Nadara came in and sat down beside him. The old fellow seemed glad to see them.

“I am Thandar,” said the young man. “I wish to take your daughter as my mate.”

The old man looked at him questioningly for a moment.