Babalatchimovedaboutintheshadows，whisperingtoanindistinctformortwothatflittedaboutatthefarendofthehut。WithoutstirringLingardglancedsideways，andcaughtsightofmuffled-uphumanshapesthathoveredforamomentneartheedgeoflightandretreatedsuddenlybackintothedarkness。
Babalatchiapproached，andsatatLingard’sfeetonarolled-upbundleofmats。
\"Willyoueatriceanddrinksagueir？\"hesaid。\"Ihavewakedupmyhousehold。\"
\"Myfriend，\"saidLingard，withoutlookingathim，\"whenIcometoseeLakamba，oranyofLakamba’sservants，Iamneverhungryandneverthirsty。Tau！Savee！Never！DoyouthinkIamdevoidofreason？Thatthereisnothingthere？\"
Hesatup，and，fixingabruptlyhiseyesonBabalatchi，tappedhisownforeheadsignificantly。