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〃What is all this？〃 he thought to himself。 〃Why is my mind so keen today？〃 He thought that perhaps it might be from the shock of being pulled out of bed so roughly and forced to leave the burning house。 But he was not sure。 All he knew was that he thought more clearly than he had been able to do since he could remember。
Still he wondered at the faces of the young men and their confidence； when outside everything was burning。 Though Ish could not solve that problem； yet he thought much about it； and had various ideas。 Perhaps； he thought； the difference lay somewhere in the difference between civilization and the times in which they now were living。 In civilization； he thought； these young men would have all been considering one another as rivals； because in the days of civilization there were many men。 They did not think much about the world outside of them because man seemed to be greatly stronger than all that outside world。 So they thought mostly about how they could get the better of other people； and so they were likely not to trust each other altogether； not even brother and brother。 But now； he thought； when men are very few； each of these young men wanders freely with his bow in hand and his dog at heel； but needs his rade close at call。 Nevertheless Ish did not know； and though his mind thought very clearly and very deeply in those hours； still he was not sure。
By mid…afternoon the fire had swept past them； and was burning far off to the south。 They left the shelter of the rocks； avoiding places where the fire was still smouldering and where embers lay hot； they made their way southward down the slope of the hill gradually； without much difficulty。 Evidently the young men knew what they were doing。 Ish did not bother to ask questions because he needed all his strength merely to keep moving。 They waited for him patiently； and often they helped him； letting him rest his arms across their shoulders。 Toward evening； when his strength was failing； they made camp near a stream。 Because of some freak of the wind and also because of the greater growth there； the fire had left a small spot unburned。
A little water was running in the stream…bed。 The larger game all seemed to have run before the flames； but many quail and rabbits had taken shelter along the stream…bed； and the young men； scattering with their bows； soon came back with plenty of food。
One of them； apparently out of mere habit； began to make a fire with a bow…drill。 But the others laughed at him； and soon gathered together some still glowing and smouldering sticks from where the fire had swept through。
After he had eaten a little and felt stronger； Ish looked around； and saw by the gutted ruins of a great building that they had camped on what had long ago been the campus of the University。 Though he was still tired； he stood up curiously； and made out the shape of the Library a hundred yards or so distant。 The trees around it had burned； but the building itself was still intact。 Nearly all of its volumes； the whole record of mankind； would probably be still available。 Available for whom？ Ish did not try to answer the question that rose so spontaneously in his mind。 In some way； the rules of the game had changed。 He would not say whether they had changed for better or for worse。 In any case； the Library…its preservation or its destruction…seemed to make very little difference in his thoughts now。 Perhaps； this was the wisdom of old age。 Perhaps； it was only despair and resignation。
〃This will be a strange place for me to sleep tonight；〃 Ish thought。 〃Will the ghosts of my old professors move before me after all these years？ Will I dream of a million books passing in endless procession； looking reproachfully upon me because after so long I have begun to have doubts in them and all they stood for？〃
That night； however； though he often woke and was cold and envied the young men sleeping soundly； yet between times of waking he slept well and had no dreams； because he was very tired from all that had happened during the day。
Chapter 3
In the dawn； when he awoke finally； he was weak but clear…headed。
〃This is very strange；〃 he thought； 〃because in the last few years I know that frequently I have not been wholly conscious of what was happening； and that is the way a very old man often is。 But now； as it was yesterday； I see everything very clearly。 I wonder what this can mean？〃
He watched the young men making breakfast ready。 That same one was whistling gaily at the same tune； and again it brought to Ish the thought of little bells and happiness； although he could not remember its name。 But still his mind was clear…〃clear as a bell；〃 the old words came to him； since the idea of bells was already with him。
〃I have heard；〃 he thought； putting the thoughts into silent sentences； as he had always had a habit of doing； and now as an old man was more prone than ever to do。 〃Yes； I have heard； or more likely I have read it in one of all those books…at least； from somewhere I have got the idea that a man's mind bees clear just before he is to die。 Well； I am very old； and it is likely enough； and nothing certainly to be unhappy about。 If I were a Catholic now and if things were different； I should wish to confess。〃
Then by the little stream； with the smell of smoke still in his nostrils and with the old University buildings looming up around him； he thought for a moment of his life； and considered what he had piled up of sins and of virtues。 For he realized that a man should make peace with himself； even though all conditions changed； and that a man should face the question of whether in his life he had satisfied the ideas which he had built up within himself as to what he should be； and that all this was not a matter of priests and religion but of a man himself。
After he had considered his life； he did not feel perturbed。 He had made mistakes； but also he had sometimes done the right thing； as always…or at least in general…he had tried to do。 The Great Disaster had placed him in a position for which he had no training； still he had acplished certain things； and had lived； he trusted； not altogether ignobly。
Just then one of them brought him a morsel of something that had been roasted on a stick before the fire。
〃This is for you；〃 said the young man。 〃It is the breast of a quail as you yourself； Ish； well know。〃
Ish thanked him politely； and chewed at the meat； being glad that he had teeth left。 The smoky tang of the open fire was in the meat； and the taste was delicious。
〃Why should I consider dying？〃 he thought。 〃Life is still good； and I am the last American。〃
But he did not bother to ment on anything that was happening or to ask questions as to what they would do that day。 He felt in some strange way drawn from the world； although he was still so fully conscious of it。
After breakfast there came a shouting from farther down the stream； and soon a newer arrived。 There was a long talk then； but Ish did not pay much attention。 He gathered； in general； that the whole tribe was moving toward a place where there were some lakes and where the fire had not swep