Laura took the flap of the canvas in her hand.
"What do all these marks mean ?" she asked.
"They are cabalistic signs," the Professor replied, "part of the language of the tribe.

They indicate that this is the guest tent, and there are a few little maxims traced upon it, extolling the virtues of hospitality.
Out in the desert there we met the Mongars as foes, and we had, I can assure you, a very narrow escape of our lives.

Here, under the shelter of their encampment, it is a very different matter.

We have eaten their salt." "It's a strange position," Quest remarked moodily.
Lenora leaned forward to where a little group of Mongars were talking together.
"I wish that beautiful girl would come and let us see her again," she murmured.
"She," the Professor explained, "is the Chief's daughter, Feerda, whose life Craig saved." "And from the way she looks at him," Laura observed, "I should say she hadn't forgotten it, either." The Professor held up a warning finger.

The girl herself had glided to their side out of the shadows.