"No wonder. I hear it's ten miles wide up by the flats, and even a little below where we wintered, at Ikogimeut, it's four miles across from bank to bank."
Kurilla looked at the Colonel with dignified reproach. Why did he go on lying about his journey like that to an expert?
"Even at Holy Cross—" the Boy began, but Kurilla struck in:
"When you there?"
"Oh, about three weeks ago."
Peetka made remarks in Ingalik.
"Father MacManus, him all right?" asked Kurilla, politely cloaking his cross-examination.
"MacManus? Do you mean Wills, or the Superior, Father Brachet?"
"Oh yes! MacManus at Tanana." He spoke as though inadvertently he had confused the names. As the strangers gave him the winter's news from Holy Cross, his wonder and astonishment grew.
Presently, "Do you know my friend Nicholas of Pymeut?" asked the Boy.