Was it a challenge?—a defiance?—a threat?
None of these.
"It is the head of Ra'a," said Blair at last. "I wonder who it was that brought it? If we knew that, we might guess what it means."
There had been no fighting of late between Ha'o's people and Ra'a's. In fact, the quiescence of the latter during the other troubles had been cause for congratulation. And since then everything had been quiet in the villages—over-quiet, the quietness of repletion. Evans had indeed begun to fear ill results from the over-indulgence of savage appetites.
"What do you make of it, captain?" asked Blair at last, as of one more versed than the rest in heathen ways.
"Hanged if I know!" said the old man, with a puzzled frown.
"I take it, it is a sign of submission on the part of Ra'a's men," said Blair quietly. "Ra'a himself would never have come in of his own accord. His men have wanted to, and so they have brought him."
"I shouldn't wonder," said Cathie. "It's just the thing they might do."
And in the morning they sent up early for Ha'o, and showed him the message, and asked his opinion.
"Kenni is right," he said at last. "They submit."