The greedy fellow Oko, already mentioned, wanted them to carry all their stores with them, and he tried to get others to help carry his.
“We helped you gather those stores,” said one, “and will not serve you again by carrying them after you have taken them from us.”
“I did not take them by force,” he answered.
“No,” replied the first, “because you would not fight; but you stole them, or persuaded us to give them to you.”
“I always gave you something in exchange.”
“True, but it was in each case something worth less.”
Oko was the first man that had learned to cheat, his avariciousness being distorted into dishonesty which easily deceived them, since men, though they early learned to resist force, were slow to withstand guile.
Being unable to get help in carrying his stores he concluded to stay at home to watch them, when the thought of getting greater stores from the Lali again changed his mind; and his voice was now for war.
The preparations thus went on, and all seemed propitious for a successful campaign, when suddenly a tremendous shock was felt. A mountain range in the distance rose to the sky, forming a ridge of the Alps. A roar such as has not since visited the earth reverberated through the country, shaking the air as violently as the first shock shook the earth. The world rocked to and fro like a vessel at sea, tumbling every man to the earth, and rolling him over the ground. It was impossible to stand, or even to lie still. The whole human race became sea sick, and all were, in addition, more frightened than sick. Down came the dug-outs with their contents over the heads of the Ammi, and men and provisions were rolled promiscuously over the ground. Fruits and nuts fell from the trees, and many trees fell with them. There seemed to be no safety for anything on the earth, or even for the earth itself. The land appeared to be going, and all looked for a general collapse.