The Indian continued to look at Burton with a frank interest that did not approach rudeness or lessen his dignity. It was hard to say whether his curiosity was friendly or not. He seemed a mixture of the child and the Sphinx.
"How!" said Burton, with friendly intent.
"How!" responded Washitonka. Then he turned to Welch and made some observations in a very guttural voice.
"He says he has come to see the man who has a charmed life," said Welch with a laugh.
"Ask how he knows that I have a charmed life."
After some colloquy, which Burton wished vainly that he could understand, Welch explained.
"He says he knew, when he saw the smoke rise this morning, that a man who bore a charmed life would come to his teepee today."
"Oh, did he!" exclaimed Burton. "Well, tell him that when I lit my cigar this morning I knew by the way the smoke rose that I should meet today a wise old man with a silver tongue, who would tell me many wonderful tales of the old days when the Indian and the paleface hunted the buffalo together and were brothers."
Welch laughed, and after a moment's stony impassivity Washitonka relaxed into a grin which betrayed his understanding of the white man's tongue.
"Good talk," he said briefly.