The one addressed was yards away, but his long ears heard the question plainly. "Can't say," he answered. "They acted so funny. When we spoke to that one in their own language, so as to make him feel at home—"
"Yes," said a third, almost invisible in the mist. "Was that the right thing to do, d'you suppose? Are you sure you got the words right, that last time?"
"Sure," said the first, confidently. "I was right next to the ship all evening, and I memorized everything they said...."
They considered that for a while, sipping from their flasks. Other voices piped up: "Maybe we should have talked to them when they were all together?"
"Nooo. They were so big. That one was much the nicest, anyway."
"He took our present."
"Yes," said the slim one, summing it up. "They must have liked us all right. After all, they gave us this"—swinging his flask to make a pleasant gurgle of 150-proof grain alcohol. "That proves it!"
Burp!