"Very true! Curse the pronunciation!"
And again Paganel began, but with no better success.
"I will change the expression," said he. And pronouncing with magisterial slowness, he uttered these words,—
"A—Patagonian,—doubtless?"
The native remained mute as before.
"Answer!" added Paganel.
The Patagonian did not reply.
"Do—you—understand?" cried Paganel, violently enough to damage his organs of speech.
It was evident that the Indian did not understand, for he answered, but in Spanish,—
"I do not understand."