He darted glances to right and left but there was nothing near him except the six little animals. The yellow one, having spoken, was staring silently at him with only curiosity on its furry face. He wondered if some miasma or some scent from the vegetation in the valley had warped his mind into sudden insanity and asked:

“You think you’ll do what?”

It opened its mouth again, to stutter, “I⁠—I⁠—” Then, with a note of alarm, “ Hey.⁠ ⁠… ”

It said no more and the next sound was that of Barber hurrying toward him and calling, “Hey⁠—Bill⁠—where are you?”

“Here,” he answered, and he was already sure that he knew why the little animal had spoken to him.

Barber came up and saw the six chipmunk-bears. “Six of them!” he exclaimed. “There’s one in the next cave⁠—the damned thing spoke to me!”