NATURAL SELECTION 39 



often were unappeased, his maw was ever 

 full. He grew faster than they, not alone 

 because he was born to a greater size but 

 also because the abundance of his food 

 added new tissue to his frame. 



But, as so often happens to the one who 

 finds himself able to overcome all obstacles 

 and triumph over his kind, his very suc- 

 cesses proved elements in his failure. By 

 saving his life he was in a fair way to lose 

 it 



Always inclined to feel superior, he be- 

 came arrogant with his victories. He grew 

 domineering. Imperiously he slashed his 

 brothers and sisters, intolerant of their 

 weakness and contemptuous of their help- 

 fulness to each other. Yet with all his im- 

 periousness the same was true of him as of 

 men with similar dispositions: he was in- 

 satiable in his desire for flattery and adula- 

 tion. He wanted to be admired, feared, 

 praised, deferred to, respected, acclaimed. 



There were in the school some who were 

 willing to accord him all these, just as 

 among men there are always kotowers to 

 the supercilious. But others were less 

 deferential. Especially Leaper. Genial 



