Yet I
was still at sea; nor, seemingly, could Ajor enlighten me, since
she was compelled to use words which I could not understand and
which it was impossible for her to explain the meanings of.
As we stood talking, we were suddenly startled by a commotion in
the bushes and among the boles of the trees surrounding us, and
simultaneously a hundred Kro-lu warriors appeared in a rough circle
about us. They greeted Chal-az with a volley of questions as they
approached slowly from all sides, their heavy bows fitted with
long, sharp arrows. Upon Ajor and me they looked with covetousness
in the one instance and suspicion in the other; but after they
had heard Chal-az's story, their attitude was more friendly. A
huge savage did all the talking. He was a mountain of a man, yet
perfectly proportioned.
"This is Al-tan the chief," said Chal-az by way of introduction. Then
he told something of my story, and Al-tan asked me many questions
of the land from which I came. The warriors crowded around close
to hear my replies, and there were many expressions of incredulity
as I spoke of what was to them another world, of the yacht which
had brought me over vast waters, and of the plane that had borne
me Jo-oo-like over the summit of the barrier-cliffs. It was the
mention of the hydroaeroplane which precipitated the first outspoken
skepticism, and then Ajor came to my defense.
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