The Rajah of Dah Part 35

"Did you see where he made for?" said the doctor.

"And is it see on a night like this, sor?"

"No, no. Of course not. There, come into the house, it must have been some scoundrel trying what he could pick up. Come, Braine."

They went back up the stairs into the room where Mrs Barnes and Mrs Braine were anxiously awaiting their coming, and told them that it was only a scare.

"Driscol heard some one about the place, and tried to hold him," the doctor said. "Don't be alarmed."

"But I am alarmed," said Mrs Barnes, excitedly. "I am sure there is some great trouble coming upon us."

"Then act like a true Englishwoman," said the doctor; "help your husband. Don't hinder him by being weak and hysterical."

"I'll try," said Mrs Barnes, speaking firmly.

"That's right. Now Braine, what do you propose doing next?"

"Nothing. We must wait."

"But Amy--my child?"

"I am thinking of her as much as you are," said Mr Braine, "and I see no other course but to stand firm, and to give the rajah to understand that such a thing as he is bent upon is impossible. Mr Murray will stand by us."

"Yes," said Mr Braine, moodily. "But--"

"For Heaven's sake, do not raise difficulties, man," cried the doctor.

"We can do nothing to-night, but rest and gain strength for any trouble which may come to-morrow.--My dear," he continued to his wife, "you will stay with Mrs Barnes to-night; she and Amy will be glad, I am sure, of your company."

"Indeed yes," cried the doctor's wife, gratefully.

"I can do no good, Barnes, so I will go on with Murray here, and bring back Frank. You will send to me if there is the slightest need. There, good-night, all. This has been a scare, but it may have had its crisis, and a few days hence, I hope we shall all be laughing at our fright."

He shook hands, and moved towards the door.

"Now, Greig, Murray," he said.

But Murray was standing grasping Mrs Barnes's hand, "Tell her," he whispered, "that some means shall be devised to save her from such another insult as this."

Mrs Barnes pressed his hand; and then hastily shaking hands with Mrs Braine and the doctor, he hurried out into the garden and joined the others, after which the Greigs went to their own place.

"Those boys will think we are never coming," Murray said, speaking more cheerily now.

"Well, we will soon relieve their anxiety," replied Mr Braine. "Come, that's better. We must not treat this as a panic, and exaggerate the difficulty of our position."

"I do not," said Murray, quietly. "It needs no exaggeration. Look!" he whispered; "we are followed, are we not?"

"I can hardly see for the darkness. Possibly. His men are always on the watch. No European monarch was ever better served by his secret police."

"But tell me," said Murray; "are you going back quietly to your place as soon as you have fetched Frank?"

"Not directly, perhaps, but very soon. We had better separate, and seem to be treating all this calmly, for our acts are certain to be reported to the rajah."

"And what about our words at the house?"

"What? the possibility of them having been heard, and the information conveyed to the rajah?"

"Yes."

"I cannot say. Let us both sleep on it. To-morrow I may have some plan."

"And the boys. Are they to know?"

"As little as possible. Here we are. How quiet and peaceful the place seems! Asleep, I suppose. Tired of waiting."

There was a dim light in the house devoted to Murray and his nephew; and as they reached the steps, the naturalist felt a pang of annoyance at not seeing Hamet start up and challenge them, for, as a rule, he was always in the veranda on the watch.

"It has been a long and weary day," said Murray, with the depression from which he suffered affecting his voice. "Will you go on first?"

"No; you are the master; lead on."

Murray stopped short.

"Look here," he said. "Let the boys sleep. Stop here with me. I will soon make some coffee, and we will sit and smoke and talk."

"No, no," said Mr Braine, hastily.

"But it is hard indeed if we cannot hit out some plan before morning.

There, go up quietly. You will stay?"

"No," said Mr Braine, firmly. "You forget what was said when we came away. I must be at my own place in case Barnes wants me."

"Yes, of course," said Murray, quickly. "Then I will come back with you. One minute. Let me see if the boys are sleeping all right, and say a few words to Hamet."

He sprang up the steps lightly, and entered the house, but no Hamet was there to challenge him, neither were the boys in the outer room stretched on the mats, as he expected to find them--asleep.

Murray looked round quickly, and at a glance saw that the guns had been brought in and hung on their slings, the two baskets containing the specimens shot, and the others were hung upon the pegs arranged for the purpose, and the lamp was burning dimly on the rough table.

He caught up the light, and shading it with his hand, stepped lightly over the mats, and looked into the inner room, drew a long deep breath, and stepped back to stand thinking a few moments before he set down the lamp.

He stepped to the doorway.

"Come up," he said.

Braine obeyed.

"Sleeping soundly?"

"Take the light. Look," said Murray, in a low voice.