“Let them understand that we don’t intend to give them any trouble, and that we shall return by this same way at a later day.”
The interpreter delivered this speech which the black men received with solemn interest. Then they conversed together for a moment.
At length, facing again toward Trim, they made another speech through their spokesman.
The interpreter grinned as he turned to his employer to translate it.
“They say,” he said, “‘that it is the custom of well-meaning travelers to pay for the privilege of camping in this territory.’”
“We’ll settle that quick enough, then,” responded Trim. “Tell them that they shall be liberally rewarded.”
With this he opened the box upon which he and Dobbin had been sitting, and took from it a handful of the cheapest kind of beads and other such ornaments.
The eyes of the savages glistened as they saw the trinkets.
Trim gave them each a few of these articles and then held his hands over their heads, making gestures slowly and solemnly.
“Tell them,” he said to the interpreter, “that the western stars look kindly at them.”