“Come and see what presents I have brought you, children!”
A door was opened and three girls crept out, laughing, one of them, with her naked toe, pushing the half-burnt logs on to the smouldering coals.
“What is it, mother?”
“Guess, my children.”
“A young kid,” said one, smacking her lips.
“Tobacco,” said another.
“Hark to them!” said a third scornfully. “You bring news, is it not so? We heard sounds of a fight. Our people have fled, and we are free!”
“Ay, there was a big fight, and our people have won.”
“You gabble, old woman! Our men have no stomach for fighting. They can only talk.”
“Noenti, how you chatter! If our folk have won, they will be feasting and dancing.”