Him answering with a grin, the fierce Pounder showed his teeth. His great lips parted, like the swinging gates of Babylon, bringing to view huge rows of marble-like columns that lined, like palisades, a deep, dark gorge. A like mouth opened on the other side; and Scratch-for-Fleas, looking now to the east and now to the west, advanced, first on four feet and then on two. Next he moved sidewise, and, at last, for a moment, stood still, moving however in contemplation his great features, which, following his thoughts, changed fast in shape and color like clouds in a mountain storm. “Do you come for the maiden of Ilo?” he said. “You will return without her. Give back your stolen fruits and women, and we may make peace before war begins.” Pounder thereupon, without answering, rushed for Scratch-for-Fleas, being better fitted for war than for diplomacy. Scratch-for-Fleas, fearing the mighty assault, retreated to the hosts of the Lali, unwilling to fight so great a champion; and thereupon a loud shout went up from the Ammi at their bloodless victory. Pounder, however, was disappointed, for he loved fighting better than conquering. Then the nimble-shanked Nut-picker, he who had been reared on the slopes of Wildcat Mountain, went out from the hosts of the Lali bearing a cocoanut in his hand. Him seeing, the avaricious Oko, not knowing whether it was a weapon or a truce-signal, went forth to meet, saying, “Do you mean war or cocoanuts? If you mean cocoanuts, produce enough and we may give up the fight.” Then the nimble-shanked Nut-picker, true-aiming, threw and struck him, and the cocoanut rolled to the ground on one side, and Oko on the other. Picking up himself and then the cocoanut, Oko thereupon retired to the ranks of the Ammi bearing with him his defeat and his booty. War was now declared and begun, and the two parties, hitherto friends, or indifferent to each other, became enemies. So great a difference does so slight a change produce. Then, according to the legends of the Ammi, the great spirit of Shoozoo, looking out from the heavens at the combatants, and fearing that his worshippers might be destroyed, called a council of the gods. Simlee, his wife, Queen of Heaven, appeared, leaving her mists, and the great winged Alligator came up out of the Swamp, dripping with the flood, and the Fire-god left his place in the sky, and the Rainbow folded up his rays, and the Wind left the earth and sea, (so that there was a season of calms), and they all met in the sky to take counsel on the events that were about to transpire on earth.