Free Allan and the Ice Gods by H. Rider Haggard Page B

plenty of
    food and the weather was warm, or took counsel, or watched the young
    men fight and wrestle for the prize of a girl they coveted.
    At the head of the ring, which was oblong in shape rather than round,
    standing about Wini-wini the Shudderer, who from time to time still
    blew blasts upon his horn, were some of the leaders of the tribe,
    among them old Turi the Avaricious, the hoarder of food who was always
    fat, whoever grew thin; and Pitokiti the Unlucky with whom everything
    went wrong, whose fish always turned rotten, whose women deserted him,
    whose children died, and whose net was sure to break, so that he must
    be supported by others for fear lest he should die and pass on his
    ill-luck to them who neglected him; and Whaka the Bird-of-Ill-Omen,
    the lean-faced one who was always howling of misfortunes to come; and
    Hou the Unstable, a feather blown by the wind, who was never of the
    same mind two days together and Rahi the Rich, who traded in stone
    axes and fish hooks and thus lived well without work; and Hotoa, the
    great-bellied and slow-speeched, who never gave his word as to a
    matter until he knew how it was settled, and then shouted it loudly
    and looked wise; and Taren, She-Who-hid, with N’gae the priest of the
    Ice-gods and the magician who told fortunes with shells, and only came
    out when there was evil in the wind.
    Lastly there was Moananga, Wi’s younger brother, the brave, the great
    fighter who had fought six men to win and keep Tana, the sweet and
    loving, the fairest woman of the tribe, and killed two of them who
    strove to steal her by force. He was a round-eyed man with a laughing
    face, quick to anger but good-tempered, and after Wi the Hunter, he
    who stood first among the people. Moreover, he loved Wi and clung to
    him, so that the two were as one, for which reason Henga the chief
    hated them both and thought that they were too strong for him.
    All these were talking with their heads close together, till presently
    appeared Wi, straight, strong, and stern, at whose coming they grew
    silent. He looked round at them, then said:
    “I have words.”
    “We are listening,” replied Moananga.
    “Hearken,” went on Wi. “Is there not a law that any man of the tribe
    may challenge the chief of the tribe to fight, and if he can kill him,
    may take his place?”
    “There is such a law,” said Urk, the old wizard, he who made charms
    for women and brewed love potions, and in winter told stories of what
    had happened long ago before his grandfather’s grandfather was born,
    very strange stories, some of them. “Twice it has chanced in my day,
    the second time when Henga challenged and killed his own father and
    took the cave.”
    “Yes,” added Whaka the Bird-of-Ill-Omen, “but if he who challenges is
    defeated, not only is he killed, his family is killed also”—here he
    glanced at Aaka and Foh—“and perhaps his friend or brother”—here he
    looked at Moananga. “Yes, without doubt that is the law. The cave only
    belongs to the chief while he can defend it with his hands. If another
    rises who is stronger than he, he may take the cave, and the women,
    also the children if there are any, and kill them or make them slaves,
    until his strength begins to fail him and he in turn is killed by some
    mightier man.”
    “I know it,” said Wi. “Hearken again. Henga has done me wrong; he
    stole and murdered my daughter Fo-a. Therefore I would kill him. Also
    he rules the tribe cruelly. No man’s wife or daughter or robe or food
    is safe from him. His wickedness makes the gods angry. Why is it that
    the summers have turned cold and the spring does not come? I say it is
    because of the wickedness of Henga. Therefore, I would kill him and
    take the cave, and rule well and gently so that every man may have
    plenty of food in his hut and sleep safe at night. What say you?”
    Now Wini-wini the Shudderer spoke, shaking in all his limbs:
    “We say that you must do what you will, Wi, but