A Needful War


  THE people of Madagonia had an antipathy to the people of Novakatka 
and set upon some sailors of a Novakatkan vessel, killing two and 
wounding twelve.  The King of Madagonia having refused either to 
apologise or pay, the King of Novakatka made war upon him, saying 
that it was necessary to show that Novakatkans must not be 
slaughtered.  In the battles which ensued the people of Madagonia 
slaughtered two thousand Novakatkans and wounded twelve thousand.  
But the Madagonians were unsuccessful, which so chagrined them that 
never thereafter in all their land was a Novakatkan secure in 
property or life.