“How is Nelatu?” he at length asked. “Will he be strong enough to travel to-morrow?”
“Not quite,” said Carrol, pausing in the chorus part of his ditty; “he’d best remain here till his people come. They won’t be long now, and the stay will give him time to get right smart.”
“What was it that vexed my father, Cris?”
“Well, I don’t know ’cept he’s took somethin’ that’s disagreed with him. He do seem riled considerable.”
“But, Cris, are you really off to-morrow?”
“By sunrise,” answered Carrol.
“Which way are you going?”
Cris looked slily at his questioner before answering.
“I don’t know for sure whether it’ll be along the bay, or across the big swamp. The deer are gettin’ scarce near the settlement, and I have to go further to find ’em. That’s all along of civilisation.”
“If you go by the swamp you might do me a service,” said Warren.