"People should speak plainly in business affairs," the Babbler observed, shaking his head.
"That's true! Well, come, repeat the conditions; I will see if we can accept them."
"What's the good of that? You are not the principal chief, are you?"
"No:—but—yet——"
"You could pledge yourself to nothing—so it's of no use. If Waktehno—he who kills—were here now, it would be quite another thing. He and I should soon understand one another."
"Speak then, he is listening to you," said a strong, sonorous voice.
There was a movement in the bushes, and the personage who, up to that moment, had remained an invisible hearer of the conversation of the two men, judged, without doubt, that the time to take a part in it was arrived, for, with a bound, he sprang out of the bushes that had concealed him, and placed himself between the speakers.
"Oh! oh! you were listening to us, Captain Waktehno, were you?" said the Babbler without being the least discomposed.
"Is that unpleasant to you?" the newcomer asked, with an ironical smile.
"Oh! not the least in the world."