Several girls shook their heads. He knew that already they felt he had been wise in giving up the pursuit. Ivana spoke.
“If the Duca and his horde stay underground, we shouldn’t have a chance against them. And if they don’t, we’re better here.”
Kirby shot a searching glance at her, somehow sure that her thoughts were running parallel with his.
“You don’t think they’re going to stay here, do you?”
“No, and you don’t either,” Ivana answered.
“It seems to me that they will retreat into the Rorroh as fast as they can,” Kirby then observed.
“And do you think the Duca and all the caciques will go with the apes?” This time it was Nini who spoke, and with the council so well launched, Kirby began to feel better.
“I think,” he answered Nini, “that the Duca has gone over to Xlotli altogether. We fooled him to-day. Instead of killing or capturing us all, he—he only got Naida. But he won’t give up. I think he is taking the apes off to some place from which he can launch a new attack. And we’ve got to stop him before he is ready to deliver another blow.”