And Pelops had always disliked me and had always envied and hated
Agathemer. We were keyed up with anxiety.
Just as we recognized Pelops a tall, red-headed, sandy lout, with a long
neck and a prominent gullet-knot, came forward into sight from the
direction of the entrance, apparently from beyond the fire. He put up his
right hand and called, slowly and clearly:
"Eating time is over: Now we hold council!"
The men speedily assembled in curving rows facing the fire and sat or
stood as they pleased, all facing where we inferred that their leader sat,
to the right of the fire-place out of our sight round the bulge of the
shoulder of rock.
Between them and the fire, just far enough from it for him to be visible
to us, a burly shock-headed, black-haired southern Gaul took his stand.
Then we clearly heard a voice, which we inferred must be the leader's, a
voice distinct and far-carrying, but a voice amazingly soft, mild and
gentle, say:
"Council is called. Let all other men be silent. Caburus is to speak."
The burly Gaul began blusteringly, with a strong southern Gallic accent
like a Tolosan:
"It is no use, Maternus, trying to bamboozle us with your everlasting
serenity. We decline to be fooled any longer.
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