at
one wonders how other countries exist without the excitement of the
vendetta. Then the intercourse with noted murderers and assassins
makes a mere ordinary man whose hands are not stained with the blood
of his fellow-beings seem dull and tame. Our eagerness pleased our
friend and we adjourned to the cafe opposite.

About five years ago a near relation of the Prince died, and was taken
to the home of Petrovic in Njegusi. To do honour to the dead man, the
men of Cetinje and the men of Bajice--a village at the further end of
the valley--accompanied the corpse as a guard of honour.

Now a corpse is waked in true Irish style in this country, and by the
time the escort had returned to the valley of Cetinje and halted at
Bajice for a parting glass, the condition of the mourners resembled
the close of a Bank Holiday in London. The too liberal indulgence in
raki or spirits does not always provoke that mellowness which follows
a good dinner and a glass of port. On the contrary, you become
argumentative and convinced of the truth of your side of the question,
and you do not hesitate to tell the other man that he is more or less
of a fool. So it came to pass in Bajice that those of Cetinje argued
that they were the better men, a statement which did not conduce to
good fellowship--in fact, a Voivoda who was present, a native of
Bajice, had to interfere to prevent the only true solution of the
question in point. He was an aged man, and the men of Cetinje
proceeded home without proving their statement. One man, however,
stayed behind to continue the argument, and this naturally enraged the
Voivoda. He ordered him to be beaten. Nothing loath, the worthy
villagers fell upon him, and belaboured him with such fervour that he
soon fell insensible to the ground. Before he lost consciousness, he
was heard to utter a threat to the effect that his assailants would be
sorry for it.

Then he was carried to the hospital in Cetinje and lay six weeks
recovering.

When he was well again, his thoughts were occupied with revenge, and
in this scheme he was greatly assisted by his relations.

"Thou wilt be killed, of course," they said, "but thine and our honour
must be avenged. Who are the men of Bajice to beat one of us and go
unpunished?"

He was of the same opinion, and cast about for a suitable victim. Now
the son of the aged Voivoda who had ordered the assault lived in
Cetinje. He was the captain of the Royal Body Guard, the hero of man