"Peace," he said hoarsely—no pun intended, pals! Lay down them bricks!—"Peace between your people and mine. And now—did you bring the usual tribute?"
"Usual tribute!" repeated the Old Man starkly. "Of course we did! We give it to you yesterday, you rascally old scoundrel. What's the big idea of—?"
The Thagwar's eyes darkened, and he pawed the ground fretfully.
"That is a mistake, Earthman! You gave me nothing!"
"Wha-a-at! A whole darn caseful of—"
"You gave me," repeated the Thagwar with increasing ominousness, "nothing! You offered a few baubles to the old Thagwar, possibly—"
Cap Hanson groaned and turned agonized eyes to his son-in-law. "Ain't that something, now! Another revolution! Now we got to pay off twice!"
Lanse nodded soberly.
"I suspected something like that. Yes, I'm afraid we must, Dad. Tomkins ... Splicer...."