capacity, one united people against a common
enemy, or whether some champion, famous in
former fights, shall be selected to defy the slayer
of our brother Antaeus to single combat. In the
latter case, though not unconscious that there
may be taller men among you, I hereby offer
myself for that enviable duty. And, believe me,
dear countrymen, whether I live or die, the
honor of this great country, and the fame be-
queathed us by our heroic progenitors, shall suffer
no diminution in my hands. Never, while I
can wield this sword, of which I now fling
away the scabbard never, never, never, even
if the crimson hand that slew the great Antaeus
shall lay me prostrate, like him, on the soil which
I give my life to defend."

So saying, this valiant Pygmy drew out his
weapon, (which was terrible to behold, Being as
long as the blade of a penknife,) and sent the
scabbard whirling over the heads of the multi-
tude. His speech was followed by an uproar
of applause, as its patriotism and self-devotion
unquestionably deserved; and the shouts and
clapping of hands would have been greatly pro-
longed, had they not been rendered quite inaudi-

[[100]]

p099 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p100w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p101

v?