Edgar dropped the subject. Whatever the cruel, cowardly conduct of the blacks might be, he knew enough about the pursuit of wealth to refrain from arguing with Yacka.
‘The tribe will be waiting for us,’ said Yacka. ‘We must return.’
‘Perhaps the earthquake has frightened them away,’ said Will.
‘They would not feel it so much as we did, being underground,’ said Edgar.
‘It was no earthquake,’ said Yacka. ‘It was the White Spirit welcoming you.’
‘A strange welcome,’ said Edgar.
‘Had it been an earthquake you would have been killed,’ said Yacka. ‘I have seen what an earthquake does. It swallows up mountains and trees, and heaves up other mountains in their place. All the plains of Australia were formed by earthquakes, and the mountains were thrown up to make that part smooth.’
‘How long will it take us to return to the tribe?’ said Edgar.
‘Not long,’ replied Yacka. ‘We will go now. We can return for the gold.’
‘We had better take some now,’ said practical Will.