"If your men," he said, "do not at once lower their pieces, I shall order mine to fire, and you may rest assured that though we are fewer in number, we are the stronger."
The chief appeared to reflect, and, addressing the Frenchman, said—
"For the last time, what do you want? I repeat that your friends are not here."
"What has become of them?"
"Well, then—they attacked my men, who killed them."
"Show me their dead bodies, if that be so."
"Go back along the way by which you came, and you will find them stretched on the sand."
"You lie!" exclaimed M. Périères. "You always try to conceal your crimes, and you would not have left your victims on the road."
"What do you want to do?" asked the chief.
"I want to visit all the tents in your encampment."