The Prerogative of Might


  A SLANDER travelling rapidly through the land upon its joyous 
mission was accosted by a Retraction and commanded to halt and be 
killed.

  "Your career of mischief is at an end," said the Retraction, 
drawing his club, rolling up his sleeves, and spitting on his 
hands.

  "Why should you slay me?" protested the Slander.  "Whatever my 
intentions were, I have been innocuous, for you have dogged my 
strides and counteracted my influence."

  "Dogged your grandmother!" said the Retraction, with contemptuous 
vulgarity of speech.  "In the order of nature it is appointed that 
we two shall never travel the same road."

  "How then," the Slander asked, triumphantly, "have you overtaken 
me?"

  "I have not," replied the Retraction; "we have accidentally met.  I 
came round the world the other way."

  But when he tried to execute his fell purpose he found that in the 
order of nature it was appointed that he himself perish miserably 
in the encounter.