A noise rose from the spectators which Matt correctly interpreted as the equivalent of a shocked gasp. Oscar had deliberately used the offensive word "eat," instead of talking around it. Matt was sure now that Oscar had lost his judgment.
If so, Oscar went on to confirm it. "Are we fish, that such should be done to us? Or are the customs such among thy daughters?"
"We follow the customs," she said shortly, and even Matt and Tex could interpret the anger in her voice. "It was my understanding that thy breed had no decencies. It will be corrected." She spoke sharply in an aside to one of her staff; the little creature trotted away. "As to thy freedom, what 1 had done was lawful for it was to protect my daughters."
"To protect thy daughters? From what? From my ailing 'mother? Or from my injured arm?"
"Thy sister who knows no customs has forfeited thy freedom."
"I hear thy words, wise mother, but I understand them not."
The amphibian seemed nonpleased. She inquired specifically about Burke, naming him by his terrestrial tag, calling it "Captain-Burke," as one word. Oscar assured her that ; Burke was no "daughter" of Oscar's "mother," nor of Os- ; car's "mother's mother." :
The matriarch considered this. "If we return you to the upper waters will you leave us?"
"What of my 'mother'?" asked Oscar. "Wouldst thou, cast 'her' forth thus ailing, to die and to be destroyed by ' the creatures of the slime?" On this occasion he carefully -j avoided the Venerian expression for "to be eaten."
The mother-of-many had Thurlow carried up to the dais? on which she sat. Several of the little folk gathered around; him and examined him, speaking to each other in high,| lisping whispers. Presently the matriarch herself joined the consultation, then spoke again. "Thy mother sleeps."