| caption: |
Chapter Sixteen. Into the Blue |
| caption: |
story of unsuccessful head-hunt by Noklak warriors |
| text: |
Not so long ago the young warriors of Noklak plotted to take a head from Chingmei, but the inglorious results only caused much laughter in Chingmak's house, and the warriors returned sorrowfully home. It appears that three Noklak warriors, seeing a solitary Chingmei man enter his field-house, decided it was too good a chance to miss. The unsuspecting man lit a fire to warm his food, such an unexpected dainty, slipped out of the back door unseen. Meanwhile the Noklak warriors crept cautiously through the millet. Reaching the field-house, and thinking the victim still inside, they divided. Two guarded the back door with raised spears the third entering by the front door found the house empty. (133) Imagining his prey escaping he rushed through the back door, only to receive a spear in his stomach. Too late did his friends realize their mistake, and they had to carry his body instead of an enemy's head back to Noklak. No wonder the people of Chingmei laughed over their mishap, and the Chingmei man blessed the little frog that had croaked in the brook. |
