To assist my meaning, I went through an imaginary honing process on the palm of my hand.

Narmonee took my meaning in an instant, and running out of the house, returned the next moment with a huge rough mass of rock as big as a millstone, and indicated to me that that was exactly the thing I wanted.

Of course there was nothing left for me but to proceed to business, and I began scraping away at a great rate.

He writhed and wriggled under the infliction, but, fully convinced of my skill, endured the pain like a martyr.
Though I never saw Narmonee in battle I will, from what I then observed, stake my life upon his courage and fortitude.

Before commencing operations, his head had presented a surface of short bristling hairs, and by the time I had concluded my unskilful operation it resembled not a little a stubble field after being gone over with a harrow.