Taken aback, because he knew that both Indians spoke English almost perfectly, Brad momentarily was at a loss for words.
“You remember us,” Dan said, coming to the rescue. “We’re the Cub Scouts you met at the cliff. We want you to come to one of our meetings and talk to the boys about Indian customs. Will you?”
The two Indians stared stoically, as if they had not understood a single word of the request.
It was Dan’s turn to become confused. He could not comprehend the Indians’ strange behavior. Why were they turning on the “freeze,” pretending that they never had seen the pair before?
White Nose deliberately turned his back to Brad and Dan. He directed himself to the storekeeper.
“Doh quih?” he demanded.
Then as the storekeeper failed to catch the meaning, he grudgingly interpreted in English, “How much?”
“Eight dollars and twenty-three cents.”
White Nose paid the amount, receiving change for a ten-dollar bill. He pocketed the money and picked up the box of groceries. The pair left the store without a second glance at the two Cubs.
“Well, was that a brush-off?” Dan demanded indignantly.