(no subject)
"he was taken before the leader, and told that he had one opportunity for life: he must survive four trials by ordeal. the first was to walk barefoot across a trench filled with hot coals. the second to drink a full quart of the most powerful spirit. thirdly he had to enter a cave and, with a small set of tongs, remove a bad tooth from a mankilling lioness. lastly, he was told, he had to make love to the ugliest crone in the village."
"well, he pulled off his boots and told them to bring on the hot coals. manfully he strode through them to the other side of the trench, where he lifted the quart of spirit and drained it, hurling the pot aside. then he stumbled into the cave. there followed the most terrible sounds of spitting, growling, and banging, and shrieking. the listening men found their blood growing cold. at last the warrior stagged out into the sunlight. 'right', he said. 'now where's the woman with the toothache?'."
"well, he pulled off his boots and told them to bring on the hot coals. manfully he strode through them to the other side of the trench, where he lifted the quart of spirit and drained it, hurling the pot aside. then he stumbled into the cave. there followed the most terrible sounds of spitting, growling, and banging, and shrieking. the listening men found their blood growing cold. at last the warrior stagged out into the sunlight. 'right', he said. 'now where's the woman with the toothache?'."