He spoke in short, quick, guttural tones, and looked from one to the other, as if asking who was the spokesman.
"I'll talk to you," said Baldy, and then he lapsed into the Indian dialect. The two talked for a little while, and it was evident that some dispute was taking place.
At first, however, the voices were kept down, and each of the talkers was calm. Then something the Indian said seemed to annoy Baldy.
"Well, you just try it on, and see what happens!" cried the cowboy, hotly. "If you think we're afraid of you it's a big mistake," and, whether unconsciously or not, his hand slid toward the weapon on his right hip.
"What is the trouble? Are we not welcome here?" asked Mr. DeVere. "If so——"
"Oh, they don't so much mind our coming, as I told 'em we had rights here," replied Baldy. "But the trouble is they don't want us to go until their ceremonies are over. They say it will spoil the magic if we come and go so quickly, so they want to keep us here a couple of days."
"As prisoners?" asked Paul, quickly.
"That's about it," was the cowboy's laconic answer.