After a little, however, the man caught her way of talking and
was able to approximate it quite well, so that she understood him
readily.
"I seek," Rolla replied, "food and rest. I have traveled far and am
weary."
"Ye look it," commented the man. His name, Rolla found out later, was
Somat. "Ye shall have both food and rest. However, whence came ye?"
"From the other side of the world," answered Rolla calmly.
Instantly she noted that the twelve became greatly excited when Somat
translated her statement. She decided to add to the scene.
"I have been away from my people for many days," and she held up one
hand with the five fingers spread out, opening and closing them four
times, to indicate twenty.
"Ye came over the edge of the world!" marveled Somat. "It were a
dangerous thing to do, stranger!"
"Aye," agreed Holla, "but less dangerous than that from which I fled.
However," impatiently, "give me the food ye promised; I can talk after
my stomach be filled."
"Of a surety," replied Somat apologetically. "I were too interested to
remember thy hunger." He spoke a word or two, and one of his companions
brought another stool, also dishes and table utensils.
Whereupon the watchers on the earth got a first-class surprise.
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