The story of Vung Sharptooth

There was a hunter called Vung Sharptooth, said to be invulnerable—not spear nor arrow pierced his bronzed skin. Such was his fame, Ogolorph grew envious, seeing in him a rival master hunter. One day, returning home, he found his wife taken. Ogolorph and his hunters, having subjected her to tortures, wrested from her her husband’s secrets: That he had won his strength from the spirits of the land. But he had failed to appease the spirits of the river. So Vung Sharptooth found his wife murdered upon a spike, on a muddy bank, and Ogolorph's hunters waiting. Filled with grief, he fought them there. Though he was mighty, they were too many—and, being near running water, near the river, he had no special protection. So he died. Ogolorph, filled with spite, defiled the bodies of husband and wife, leaving them as carrion in red mud, conducting no funerary rites. This, over everything, was a breach of propriety, and greatly offended the crocodiles. Claiming Vung Sharptooth with the tide, taking pity on him, they said: “O warrior, in death you have our blessing, go you now in a terrible form, as an amphibious predator, to visit fear and justice onto your enemies! Let it be so, from this very day!”