Bela made a clatter among the dishes.
After a while he said again: "I know where he is."
Bela, still affecting deafness, flounced into the kitchen.
She did not come back until the supper guests were arriving.
With a glance of defiance toward Musq'oosis, Bela welcomed Mahooley with a sidelong smile. That, she wished the Indian to know, was her answer. The red-haired trader was delighted. To-night the choicest cuts found their way to his plate.
When she was not busy serving, Bela sat on a box at Mahooley's left and suffered his proprietary airs. Afterward they sat in front of the fire, whispering and laughing together, careless of what anybody might think of it.
This was not particularly entertaining to the rest of the crowd, and the party broke up early.
"Bela is changed," they said to each other.
At the door Stiffy said, as a matter of form: "Coming, Mahooley?"
Mahooley, glancing obliquely at the inscrutable Bela, decided on a bold play.