The old man concluded: "You both speak fair, but I do not know what is best for my people. I do not know.
"We must await a sign to guide us. The Spirit will speak to us through limoçon or nature, will solve the problem that you have brought to us ... and will decide your fate.
"Until the Spirit speaks, you are safe with us, white men.
"I am weary now."
The venerable savage gathered the blanket more closely about his thin shoulders and closed his eyes as if exhausted. One of the four who stood behind him pointed to the door to indicate that their audience was at an end. As they passed out, the Major turned for a last look at Ahma, who was leading the old man into his room.
In the middle of the clearing he stopped short.
"Say, you forgot to translate what Ohto said after she came into the room!"
Terry smiled whimsically up into the chagrined face: "That's right, I did! But you seemed to lose interest in his words!"
As they made their way through the village Terry explained Ohto's decision, concluding with: "And so he awaits one of their 'signs,' the appearance of the limoçons, or some freak of weather or natural phenomenon like an earthquake—they read prophecies in everything."