In a quarrel these heavy club-headed sticks can do great execution; and, as the men are always quarrelling, broken heads are tolerably common, and murder not unknown.
"Last night," said Antonio, "I was in the stable, and a young man was with me, talking. Presently another entered, and after a few minutes picked a quarrel with the first. I didn't heed them much, for I was looking after my horses. But presently I heard a blow, and saw one of them fall flat on his back. The other fellow had hit him on the head with his stick, and he seemed dead."
"What did the assailant do?" I asked; "was he shocked?"
Antonio smiled his quiet amused smile. "He walked off. No, he was not shocked at all."
"And you?"
"I did what I could. I put some straw under the young man's head, and gave him water; and in about an hour he got up and went out."
"Is he much hurt?"
"Oh, he will have a broken head for some time."
"And what will he do to his assaulter? Break his head next time he sees him?"
"Perhaps he may do that, too. But he will go this morning and lay the case before the prefect."