I met and made friends with Eugene who took me across the lake to a deserted spot where there was a large rock with a steel rod embedded in it. Eugene asked me if I could pull the rod out of the rock.

I noted the rock had weathered considerably since the rod had been driven into it, so that the rod was quite loose. Then I suggested that the blacksmith's test would not be valid too much longer as the rock was falling apart. When I tried to pull the rod out, it moved about in the rock but was still held tight enough to prevent a person from pulling it out.

This story says much about the people of LaLoche. It certainly underscores their love of their children in that they stand united as a group against the very devil himself for each and every one of their children.