While he did this the chief spoke and Margery turned from her study of the roof and said in English to Henry Morgan:
“The chief says you show your magic first.”
Then she studied the youths intently and appeared to be trying to recall something. Her eyes went to the roof again and as far as she was concerned, Henry and his magic did not exist.
Henry looked baffled for a moment.
“You see—tell him——” he cleared his husky throat, “—tell him we got to get our magic prepared. It takes time. Ask him to let us wait till tomorrow.”
The girl did not bother to translate. There was a wicked little gleam of malice in her eyes, and she simply said: “Do your magic now.”
Henry consulted with Mort, while the medicine men whispered together and one of them chuckled hoarsely. Henry sent Mort away, evidently to get some materials for his trick, whatever it might be.
Then Tom divulged his plan.
First he picked up a small bit of loose dirt from the hut floor, and with a slinging, underhand motion he shied it to one side. That was the signal which meant, “I will say short sentences. The last word of each one will have a meaning and all together they will give a message.” If he had spoken his meaning could not have been plainer to his comrades.
They concentrated their whole attention on Tom.