At that moment Peter Gross saw a familiar girlish figure stride lightly down the lane. His face brightened.
"Good-afternoon, juffrouw!" he exclaimed delightedly as she approached. "How did you get here so soon?"
He offered his hand, and after a moment's hesitation Koyala permitted his friendly clasp to encircle the tips of her fingers.
"Lkath has a house ready for you," she said. "The dos-à-dos will be here in a moment." They chatted while the natives gaped until the jiggly, two-wheeled carts clattered toward them.
Lkath received them at the door of his house. Peter Gross needed only a glance into his face to see that Koyala had not been mistaken in her warning. Lkath entertained no friendly feeling toward him.
"Welcome to the falcon's nest," Lkath said.
The words were spoken with a stately courtesy in which no cordiality mingled. Dyak tradition forbade closing a door to a guest, however unwelcome the guest might be.
Seized with a sudden admiration of his host, who could swallow his prejudices to maintain the traditional hospitality of his race, Peter Gross resolved to win his friendship at all costs. It was his newborn admiration that inspired him to reply:
"Your house is well named, Gusti. None but eagles would dare roost above the gate to Sangjang."
Lkath's stern features relaxed with a gratified smile, showing that the compliment had pleased him. There was more warmth in his voice as he said: