to avenge his kinsman. The brother,
they said, must have been destroyed by a boilya or vampire, and, as
somebody must have sent that vampire against the lad, somebody must be
speared for it. Such are primitive ideas of medicine and justice. An
ordinary brave would have skulked about the dwellings of some
neighbouring human groups till he got a chance of knocking over a child
or an old woman, after which justice and honour would have been
satisfied. But Why-Why declared that, if he must spear somebody, he
would spear a man of importance. The forms of a challenge were therefore
notched on a piece of stick, which was solemnly carried by heralds to the
most renowned brave of a community settled in the neighbourhood of the
modern San Remo. This hero might have very reasonably asked, "Why should
I spear Why-Why because his brother over-ate himself?" The laws of
honour, however (which even at this period had long been established),
forbade a gentleman when challenged to discuss the reasonableness of the
proceeding.

The champions met on a sandy plain beside a little river near the modern
Ventimiglia. An amphitheatre of rock surrounded them, and, far beyond,
the valley was crowned by the ancient snow of an Alpine peak. The tribes
of either party gathered in the rocky amphitheatre, and breathlessly
watched the issue of the battle. Each warrior was equipped with a
shield, a sheaf of spears, and a heavy, pointed club. At thirty paces
distance they began throwing, and the spectators enjoyed a beautiful
exposition of warlike skill. Both men threw with extreme force and
deadly aim; while each defended himself cleverly with his shield. The
spears were exhausted, and but one had pierced the thigh of Why-Why,
while his opponent had two sticking in his neck and left arm.

Then, like two meeting thunder-clouds, the champions dashed at each other
with their clubs. The sand was whirled up around them as they spun in
the wild dance of battle, and the clubs rattled incessantly on the heads
and shields. Twice Why-Why was down, but he rose with wonderful agility,
and never dropped his shield. A third time he stooped beneath a
tremendous whack, but when all seemed over, grasped a handful of sand,
and flung it right in his enemy's eyes. The warrior reeled, blinded and
confused, when Why-Why gave point with the club in his antagonist's
throat; the blood leaped out, and both fell senseless on the plain.

* * * * *

When the sl