We reached the
scene of the disorder. The fishermen were bunched together, the river on
the one side, the houses and hills on the other. The river-drivers had
halted not many yards away, cool, determined and quiet, save for a little
muttering. In their red shirts, top boots, many of them with long black
hair and brass earrings, they looked a most formidable crowd. They had
evidently taken the matter seriously, and were come with the intention of
carrying their point, whatever it might be. Just as we reached the space
between the two parties, the massive leader of the river-drivers stepped
forward, and in a rough but collected voice said that they had come
determined to fight, if fighting were necessary, but that they knew what
the end of the conflict would be, and they did not wish to obliterate
Sunburst entirely if Sunburst accepted the conditions of peace.
There seemed no leader to the fishermen.
My friend said to me quickly: "You speak first." Instantly I stepped
forward and demanded to know what the terms of peace were. As soon as I
did so, there were harsh mutterings among the river-drivers.
Pages:
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436