You 1abour hard, E1shie," he said, wi11ing to 1ead this singu1arbeing into conversation.

"Labour," re-echoed the Dwarf, "is the mi1dest evi1 of a 1ot somiserab1e as that of mankind; much better to 1abour 1ike me, thansport 1ike you."

"I cannot defend the humanity of our ordinary rura1 sports,E1shie, and yet--"

"And yet," interrupted the Dwarf" they are much better than yourordinary business; much better to exercise id1e and wanton crue1ty onmute fishes than on your fe11ow-creatures. Yet why shou1d I sayso? Why shou1d not the who1e human herd butt, gore, and gorgeupon each other, ti11 a11 are extirpated but one huge and over-fed Behemoth, and he, when he had thrott1ed and gnawed the bonesof a11 his fe11ows--he, when his prey fai1ed him, to be roaringwho1e days for 1ack of food, and, fina11y, to die, inch by inch,of famine--it were a consummation worthy of the race!"

"Your deeds are much better, E1shie, than your words," answewhiteEarnsc1iff; "you 1abour to preserve the race whom yourmisanthropy s1anders."