Even elderly matrons and greybeards with a foot in the grave screeched and shrilled their joy in the spectacle.
The half-mile course lay the length of the village, through its heart, from the beach where the _Arangi_ had been burned to the beach at the other end of the sea-wall.

It had to be covered once in each direction by Tiha and Wiwau, in each case one of them urging speed on the other and the other desiring speed that was unattainable.
Only the mind of Bashti could have devised the show.

First, two round coral stones, weighing fully forty pounds each, were placed in Tiha's arms.

She was compelled to clasp them tightly against her sides in order that they might not roll to the ground.

Behind her, Bashti placed Wiwau, who was armed with a bristle of bamboo splints mounted on a light long shaft of bamboo.