“Why are you here to honor me with your presence?” was the next question, quietly put.
“In our magic travelling machine we are making a trip around the world,” began Bryonia, in a bombastic tone. They were speaking in the native dialect, which I clearly understood; and I must say that my men expressed themselves much better in that than they did in English.
The king took a bit of green chalk from his pocket and made a mark upon the bench beside him.
“Where did you get your white slaves?” he enquired.
“They were shipwrecked upon the island which we rule, and we made them our slaves,” said Bry.
The king made a second chalk mark.
“And where did you get the magic machine for travelling upon both land and water?” It was evident he had been well informed of our movements.
“It was made for us by a wizard of our island,” said Bry.
“What island?”
“Tayakoo.”