“But the swamps are not yours,” objected the other.
“No matter—they are not yours. They are neutral ground, and must not be touched.”
“Well, we will not touch them,” said the peaceful Raturan.
This reply disconcerted the fiery mountaineer, for he was anxious to fight.
“But that is not enough,” he resumed, as a bright idea struck him, “you must promise not even to look at our mountain.”
The man of Ratura reflecting how ill able his tribe was to go to war just then, agreed not even to look at the mountain!
“More than that” resumed the mountaineer, “you must not even wink at it.”
“We will not even wink at it,” replied his foe. “Still further,” continued the warlike mountaineer in sheer desperation, “you must not even think of it.”
“We will not think of it” answered the accommodating man of Ratura.
“Bah! you may go—you peace-loving cowards,” said the disappointed mountaineer, turning on his heel in bitter disappointment.