"How can I buy the land when I possess nothing?" he said.
"That is of no consequence," the chief replied.
The astonishment now became general; each looked at the Indian curiously: for the conversation had suddenly acquired a grave importance which no one expected. Black, however, was not deceived by this apparent facility.
"The chief has doubtless not understood me," he said.
The Indian shook his head.
"The Paleface cannot buy the land, because he has not wherewith to pay for it; those were his words."
"True; and the chief answered that it was of little matter."
"I said so."
There was no mistake, the two men had clearly understood one another.
"There is some devilry behind that," Bright-eye muttered in his moustache; "an Indian does not give an egg, unless he expects an ox in return."