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"You people of Old-Bear’s tribe are very devious, aren’t you?" Planter suggested

"Indeed they are, Planter," Old-Bear said with a broad grin, "and thatI’ve beento ask you, Chief Old-Bear," Red-Beard said a bit hesitantly, after Planter had left the lodge

"I will answer you as best I can, Chief Red-Beard"

"Is it really necessary for a chief to speak so foroes with the position, Chief Red-Beard," Old-Bear responded in a somewhat more relaxed manner "For When you speak formally, the men of your tribe will usually do what you tell them to do Formal speech will make you sound wiser"

"But it’s so tedious to talk like that," Red-Beard complained

"Tell me about it," Old-Bear replied sardonically "It’s tiresoet what you’re trying to tell the’s that itthe that’s foolish" The old chief paused "If I were you, Red-Beard, I’d sort of keep that to myself It’s one of the secrets of the trade If you pay close attention to the outlander chieftains, you’ll notice that they do things in more or less the sa, the men of your tribe will believe that you do, even when you don’t"

"It’s all just a deception, then?" Red-Beard deht I just said that," Old-Bear replied

"It’s not nearly as well protected as the old village was," Sorgan Hook-Beak observed as the Seagull approached the beach at the new village site a week or so later

"There aren’t any fire bow reminded him "White-Braid’s tribe can stand a bit of wind and weather It’s h an conceded "What have the people we brought here last week been doing? They haven’t even started building huts yet"

"They’re back a short way fro sod, and the wo beans"

"What do you need with sod?"

"We’re going to build our lodges with it"

"Why not use tree li men tried that when they first arrived," Red-Beard said "A wind caes fell down"

"That bow and I helped it just a bit," Red-Beard admitted "If you knohere to push, it isn’t too hard to e collapse"

"What did you do that for?" Rabbit asked curiously

"We needed to persuade the young er than tree limbs" Red-Beard made a sour face "Actually, it was just a deception The young es, but all they’re really doing is opening up the dirt below the sod so that the women can plant beans and yams We’ll need that food inter coround"

"Why did you have to lie to the is wo es is es the first ones who caht, Longbow and I suggested sod houses instead Now they’re out in thewhat they think is men’s work Everybody’s happy, and the tribe will have plenty to eat inter co"

"You people have a very coan observed