“Nelatu is not here.”
“Not here? Why, didn’t you tell me just now that this war his father’s town?”
“I did; but Nelatu is not here.”
“Not now, perhaps; but I s’pose he’ll be here?”
“He will not return for weeks.”
Carrol’s countenance fell.
“Then, dog-gone yur skin, lead on! I throw up the pack of cards now that the trump’s out of ’em. It’s my luck, and it’s the darndest luck I ever seed; there’s no standin’ agin it. I s’pose I must give in.”
Without another word he followed his guards.
They entered the council chamber, where the assembled warriors awaited them.
With his foot upon the threshold, his manner entirely changed from the light, jeering hilarity he had exhibited to that of a calm and dignified bearing.