human
My knowledge of values is rather musty. What would you judge the worth of these?
gpt
About a thousand,
human
Is that all? Then my share will not purchase a month's enjoyment. You gave me half for the life of that girl, yet I had you all at my mercy, and spared you. Come, comrade, what say you to my taking the whole? Remember, you offered me all.
gpt
There! that is your share,
human
Who are you? he asked,
gpt
Who am I? Ho, ho! I scarcely know. Ask the Zulus; they will tell you I am the great Witch-Doctor, whose coming and going no man knows. Ask the white traders--they will tell you I am the Hermit of the River. Ask the Portuguese--they will say I am Alfonse Ferrara, the lieutenant who killed his captain at Delagoa Bay. I am all these, and for twenty years I have lived on the banks of the river, alone--alone with the running water, the brooding trees, and the things that move in the night.
human
The animals?
gpt
The animals--phaugh! they shrink at my coming. No, no, the soft, silent, gliding things that lurk in the shadows; that watch me looking over their shoulders, or peeping from the shelter of rocks, or from out the dark pool. I want to get away from them;
human
But why did you dog us?
gpt
Because I knew what you were after, and I wanted it for myself. Years ago I knew of the secret of this valley. It was I who set your uncle upon the quest, in the hope I might afterwards rob him. I have haunted this place, but in vain, for they kept too close a watch. It was necessary to have help, and before you came, I sent a message to a Portuguese trader. You came when my plans were ready, and if it had not been that I mistrusted my countrymen, you would have been killed while you slept; but if they had played me false, I would have sought your help.
human
You appeared to us as a savage,
gpt
Yes, replied Ferrara with a mysterious air, and dropping his voice.
human
You see, I have donned this clothing to deceive them--the voiceless people who are searching for me. If they found me --and he looked cautiously round--