Smith and the Baker, who kept rather out of the way until the fervour of the savage welcome was overpast, now came into the crowd about the fire; for Smith was horribly curious to know if they had brought anything else home from their hunting but heads. He was reassured when he saw the women cooking fish and a big kangaroo.
"Yet that says nothing," Smith told himself. "They have been away twenty-four hours and more. They may be cannibals when they are pressed. May Fate send them plenty while we are here, if indeed we ever get out."
So, when the feeding was done, he came in again, and sat down by Big Jack.
"Good-day to you," said he civilly, and Big Jack nodded a grim salute.
"You did well to-day," said Smith.
"We killed them all," mumbled Jack with gusto: "men, and women, and the children. It is a bad day for the Emus. But the heads we brought were all men's heads."
"May I talk with you?" said Smith; "or are you weary?"
"I am never weary," said the giant. "And I want to talk with you. Who are you? and where do you come from?"
Smith told him.
"Then there are many white men in this land?" asked Big Jack.