Such formidable weapons were not
required for our purpose: they would have served well enough if we had
been going out against Don Anastacio's fierce and powerful swine; but
it was his order, and to his wild and warlike imagination the toad-
like creatures were the warriors of some hostile tribe opposing us, I
forget if in Asia or Africa, which had to be conquered and extirpated.
No sooner had we got into our long, awkwardly-shaped boat than it
capsized and threw us all into the water; that was but the first of
some dozens of upsets and fresh drenchings we experienced during the
day. However, we succeeded in circumnavigating the lake and crossing
it two or three times from side to side, and in slaying seventy or
eighty of the enemy with our javelins.
At length, when the short, mid-winter day was in its decline, and we
were all feeling stiff and cold and half-famished, our commander
thought proper to bring the great lake battle, with awful slaughter of
our barbarian foes, to an end, and we wearily trudged home in our
soaking clothes and squeaking shoes. We were too tired to pay much
heed to the little sermon we had expected, and glad to get into dry
clothes and sit down to food and tea. Then to sit by the fire as close
as we could get to it, until we all began to sneeze and to feel our
throats getting sore and our faces burning hot.
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