nds to show. Although I was severely hurt, I thought nothing
of it. I took off the skin as my blood dropped down and mixed with that
of the beast--but I rejoiced in it. Proudly did I go into the town
dripping with gore and smarting with pain. Every one extolled the feat,
called me a hero and a great captain. I filed my teeth, and I became a
man.

"From that day I ranked among the warriors, and, as soon as my wounds
were healed, I went out to battle. In three fights I had gained five
skulls, and when I returned they weighed me out gold. I then had a
house and wives, and my father appointed me a Caboceer. I wore the
plume of eagle and ostrich feathers, my dress was covered with fetishes,
I pulled on the boots with bells, and with my bow and arrows slung on my
back, my spear and blunderbuss, my knives and my double-handed sword, I
led the men to battle and brought back skulls and slaves. Every one
trembled at my name, and, if my father threatened to send me out,
gold-dust covered the floor of his hall of council--Now, I boil the
kettle for the young gentlemen.

"There was one man I liked. He was not a warrior, or I should have
hated him, but he was brought up with me in my father's house, and was a
near relative. I was grave and full of pride, he was gay and fond of
music; and although there was no music to me equal to the tom-tom, yet I
did not always wish for excitement. I often was melancholy, and then I
liked to lay my head in the lap of one of my wives, under the shady
forest behind my house, and listen to his soft music. At last he went
to a town near us where his father lived, and as he departed I gave him
gold-dust. He had been sent to my father to be formed into a warrior,
but he had no strength of body, and he had no soul; still I loved him
because he was not like myself. There was a girl in the town who was
beautiful; many asked for her as their wife, but her father had long
promised her to my friend; he refused even the greatest warrior of the
place, who went away in wrath to the fetish-man, and throwing him his
gold armlets asked for a fetish against his rival. It was given, and
two days before he was to be married my friend died. His mother came to
me, and it was enough. I put on my war dress, I seized my weapons, sat
for a whole day with my skulls before me, working up my revenge, called
out my men, and that night set off for the town where the warrior
resided, killed two of his relatives