have built for my wife, and stocked
with what money I had, to provide for her. They shall not kill me
easily. Twice have they tried. The first time I was in the fields when
men fired at me from a long distance. I took my rifle and made a
detour, and, as my enemies recrossed the border, I was there waiting
for them. But I did not hit one. Another time seven men hid themselves
only thirty yards away from my house, in the evening, but they dared
not shoot then, for my wife was by my side."

"You know," explained the doctor, "the life of a woman is sacred;
should a woman by the greatest accident shoot a man, the vendetta
falls on her husband--she may not be touched; or, should a woman be
killed in a vendetta, even by the merest accident, the shame would be
unspeakable. The murderers and their families, or even their clan,
would be blotted out, for in such revenge all would join. Keco's wife
never leaves his side after dusk, and, you see, she has saved his life
once already within his knowledge; who knows how often unawares?"

"Tell us the origin of thy blood-guiltiness," said we. Dr. S. had told
us the story, but we wished to hear it from his lips.

"I had a cow which was my pride," went on Keco. "She yielded more milk
than any other cow and of a far better quality. Men praised the milk
and the cheese when I took it to the market in Podgorica for sale, and
none more than Achmet, a Turk from Dinos.

"One morning I went to milk my cow, and could find her nowhere. My
most treasured possession was gone. I searched for her all that day
and the next on the mountain sides, but in vain. On the next market
day as I wandered gloomily across the market-place of Podgorica,
Achmet, the Turk, accosted me.

"'Where is thy milk?' he asked, 'which is so wonderful, and where are
thy marvellous cheeses?'

"I replied that I knew not, and would have passed on.

"'Make thy mind easy,' continued Achmet, an evil smile spreading over
his face, 'for I have thy cow.'

"'Ah! she has strayed across the border,' I cried. 'Thank God she is
found.'

"'She strayed across the border,' said Achmet, 'but under my guidance.
Thou hast not lied. Her milk is indeed of the good quality that thou
hast boasted. For a Christian dog like thee she is far too good.'

"To this hour I wonder that I did not strike him dead. My rage
rendered me powerless to move or see. It was as if a black cloud
descended over my eyes. When I recovered, Achmet was gone.

"Fo