with hoarse cries the deeds of the
departed chief, the body of the tribe joining in the acclamation. They
related the innumerable combats from which he had come forth victor; the
audacious expeditions on which he had caught the enemy off their guard
at night, burning their dwellings, and leading off interminable strings
of captives; the flocks captured, for which there was barely
pasture-ground in the territories belonging to the tribe; his colossal
strength; the quickness with which he mastered the wildest colt; and the
prudence which he demonstrated in all his counsels.

"He covered the doors of our houses with the hands of our enemies,"
shouted a warrior, galloping like a phantom through the smoke of the
funeral pyre.

The multitude shouted with an intonation of lament.

"Endovellicus! Endovellicus!"

"All the tribes feared him, and his name was respected like that of a
god!"

The multitude repeated the name of the chief over and over, as if
weeping.

"With his hands of stone he would fell the bull in full career, and
smite off the head of the enemy with a stroke of his sword!"

"Endovellicus! Endovellicus!"

Thus proceeded the last rites to the chieftain. The flames from the bier
rose straight into the heavens clouding the blue sky with its pall of
smoke, and the mourners tireless in heralding the deeds of their leader,
passed and repassed like black demons crowned with sparks, making their
horses leap over the flaming wood. The funeral pyre fell overwhelming
the remains of Endovellicus with ashes and charring logs, while around
the embers of the fire commenced the combat in honor of the dead.

The warriors advanced on horseback with slack rein, the shield held
before the breast, the sword raised high, and they fought like
irreconcilable enemies. The closest comrades, brothers at arms, dealt
each other tremendous blows, with the enthusiasm of a people which turns
fighting into a diversion. They must shed blood to glorify the memory of
the deceased with greater pomp. Horses fell at the shock of the
encounter and the riders continued the struggle on foot, wrestling body
to body, making the shields resound with the force of the blows. When
some of the warriors had retired covered with blood, and the combat had
assumed the character of a general battle, in which, aroused by the
spectacle, the women and children participated, Alorcus ordered the
trumpets to sound the retreat, and he hurled himself among the
c