Gradually, Captain Renner himself took over the feeding. He seemed to derive a personal satisfaction from it. Gradually, too, the natives began coming out into the open to receive it. Before long, they were waiting for him every evening as he brought them food.
The gathering of the lichen began. They picked it by hand, working singly or in pairs, searching out the rocks and hidden places where it grew. From time to time they would catch glimpses of the natives watching them from a distance. They were careful not to get close.
On one of these occasions, Captain Renner and David were working together.
"Do they have a language?" Captain Renner asked.
"Yes, sir," David answered. "I have heard them talking among themselves."
"Do you suppose you can learn it?" Renner asked. "Do you think you could get near enough to them to listen in?"
"I could try," David offered.
"Then do so," Renner said. "That's an assignment."
Thereafter David went out alone. He found that getting close to the natives was not too difficult. He tried to keep out of their sight, while still getting near enough to them to hear their voices. They were undoubtedly aware of his presence, but, with the feeding, they had lost their fear of the men, and did not seem to care.
Bit by bit he learned their language, starting from a few key roots and sounds. It was a job for which he had been trained.