I stretched my freed arms, laughed to myself, and
turned away. My laugh was genuine. It was wine to me that he should
have shown weakness in this fashion, when in some ways he had proved
himself a better general than I. It was a small victory, but it
cheered me.
I do not know how long the council lasted, but it seemed hours. The
old men rose at last, and going to Starling, patted him, grunted over
him, and examined him. I could not hear what they said, but it was
evidently pacific; they led him off in the direction of the largest
lodge.
And then came the woman's turn. I knew that my face was strained,
though I strove to keep it sneering. I saw the oldest man give
instructions, then he went to the two women and pointed the way before
him. I pushed along as best I could. He took them to a small hut of
bark and motioned them within, while he himself dropped the mat in
front of the opening. They were safe for that night at least.
The savages were wearied now and turned to Pierre and me with yawns.
They made short work of us. I was bound to the arm of a stout warrior,
and he dragged me under a tree and dropped on the ground. He was
snoring before I had finished building a barricade of cloak between us
to keep as much as possible of his touch and smell away.
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