"What is the word? Do we start?"
"We're in a rush," said Dan. "Particularly Raal, here, is minding it."
"Patience, patience!" observed Sikandar, stroking his beard calmly. "In patience is wisdom and in wisdom we attain perfection."
"We're losing time," said Dick impatiently.
"On the contrary, we are gaining time."
"By standing here and talking?" Dan blurted out.
"Wise talk is better than rash deeds," said the Mahatma. "Behold any fool is strong, but a wise man tells the fool how to use his strength."
"Now what is all this getting at?" exclaimed Dan. "I bet that Old Whiskers has made a mistake and is trying to cover up."
Sikandar's dark eyes flashed in anger at this muttered remark, then he spoke in measured tones:
"My knowledge is vast, yet even a wise man may forget. This black guide reminds me that the trail to the land of the Iron-heads is through swamps. The land is treacherous. It hardly bears a man's weight and the horses would sink in it and be lost."