Then the nimble-shanked Nut-picker, he who had been reared on the slopes of Wildcat Mountain, went out from the hosts of the Lali bearing a cocoanut in his hand.
Him seeing, the avaricious Oko, not knowing whether it was a weapon or a truce-signal, went forth to meet, saying, “Do you mean war or cocoanuts? If you mean cocoanuts, produce enough and we may give up the fight.”
Then the nimble-shanked Nut-picker, true-aiming, threw and struck him, and the cocoanut rolled to the ground on one side, and Oko on the other. Picking up himself and then the cocoanut, Oko thereupon retired to the ranks of the Ammi bearing with him his defeat and his booty.
War was now declared and begun, and the two parties, hitherto friends, or indifferent to each other, became enemies. So great a difference does so slight a change produce.
Then, according to the legends of the Ammi, the great spirit of Shoozoo, looking out from the heavens at the combatants, and fearing that his worshippers might be destroyed, called a council of the gods. Simlee, his wife, Queen of Heaven, appeared, leaving her mists, and the great winged Alligator came up out of the Swamp, dripping with the flood, and the Fire-god left his place in the sky, and the Rainbow folded up his rays, and the Wind left the earth and sea, (so that there was a season of calms), and they all met in the sky to take counsel on the events that were about to transpire on earth.
“Dire war,” said Shoozoo, “is hovering over the world, and, unless it is averted, neither Men nor Apes nor earth will long survive. Only recently I saw the world mount up toward the sky, and to-day it stands on tip-toe trying to reach the heavens; for the Alps have not yet gone down. The great Swamp left its bed to march over dry ground, and has not yet gone back. The noise of the earthquake has hardly yet subsided, but still reverberates in distant thunders; and, should war yet rage, things will be so mixed up that nothing will remain for earth or sky that is certain for either.”
“I will arise as a mist,” said Simlee, “and, passing between the two armies, prevent their collision by destroying their sight.”
“The Fire-god will soon scatter the mists,” said Night, “so that they can fight in clear day. Let me rather settle down upon them, through whom none can see; and, though it be but noon, I will wipe out their day.”