Even incredulous Hayoue started, and Okoya sighed.
"I will tell you why I ask all this," said he, and he went on to explain.

Beginning with the incident provoked by Shyuote, he confessed to the suspicions which it had aroused in his mind, and laid the whole process of his reasoning bare before his listener.

His speech was picturesque, but not consciously poetic; for the Indian speaks like a child, using figures of speech, not in order to embellish, but because he lacks abstract terms and is compelled to borrow equivalents from comparisons with surrounding nature.

Hayoue listened attentively; occasionally, however, he smiled.

At last Okoya stopped and looked at his friend in expectation.