For she allowed her curiosity
to govern her caution, and proceeded to sidle through the doorway.
Half-way through she caught a whiff of the food, and her sidling
changed to something faster.
At that instant she was seen. A tall, dark-haired chap on the far
side of the table glanced up and gave a sharp, startled exclamation.
Instantly the whole dozen whirled around and with one accord shot to
their feet.
Rolla stopped short.
There was a second's silence; then the white-bearded man, who seemed
to be the leader of the group, said something peremptory in a deep,
compelling voice. Rolla did not understand.
He repeated it, this time a little less commandingly; and Rolla,
after swallowing desperately, inclined her head in the diffident way
she had, and said:
"Are ye friends or enemies?"
Eleven of the twelve looked puzzled. The dark-haired man, who had
been the first to see her, however, gave a muttered exclamation;
then he cogitated a moment, wet his lips and said something that
sounded like: "What did you say? Say it again!"
Rolla repeated.
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