The Rajah of Dah Part 45

"Yes, master, and brought us up the river here. I said to myself, 'I will save the young masters,' and they are here."

"But what is to be done now?"

"Go down in the dark to my lord, and say here is a boat waiting. Shall we go back to Dindong?"

"But we could not, Hamet," said Frank. "The rajah's people would hear us, and stop us."

"Perhaps," said the man, quietly. "Heaven knows: but we will try."

"Yes," said Frank, "we will try, unless my father thinks we ought all to stop, and he could bully the rajah. But we will see."

"Yes, we will see," replied Hamet; and there was silence once more for a time, but Ned was too much excited to remain quiet long.

"Are you sure," he said, "that they cannot follow us on sh.o.r.e though they have no boat?"

"Quite sure," said Frank. "They are on the wrong side of the river, and they could not cut a way through the jungle for days and days. I don't know how far we are up either. Perhaps miles and miles, and they were rowing and poling up all night."

Silence once more fell upon the party, and the boys sat watching the dark wall of trees on either side and listening to the forest sounds, all of which seemed strange and impressive at such a time. Now and then the oar creaked with which Hamet kept the boat's head right, and several times now the boys shrank from the side as there was a sudden swirl and rush through the water, evidently caused by a crocodile disturbed by the pa.s.sing boat. Then, too, came the cry of a tiger, distant or near, and other peculiar calls from deep in the jungle, sounds that they would hardly have noticed by day, but which were peculiarly impressive now.

And so the time wore on, till, just as Ned was asking if his companion did not think they must be near the campong now, Hamet said in a low voice:

"Don't talk. Words fly along the water. Be heard."

"Then we must be near now?" whispered Ned.

"Yes," replied Frank. "I say, Hamet, keep a good look-out for the prahus, and run her in by the tree where the crocodile was caught. It will be quite black under those boughs."

"Pst!" whispered Hamet, and he ceased dipping his oar in the water, for suddenly a faint light appeared ahead of them not larger than that emitted by a firefly, but the regular beat of oars told that it was in some boat, and unless prompt measures were taken, it was evident that they would be seen, and the efforts of the night thrown away.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE RAJAH'S MESSAGES.

Murray woke with a start to find that the sun was well above the trees, and a curious sensation of shame troubled him as he recalled the events of the previous night.

As he started up, he saw that Mr Braine was seated at his little table writing, and as the latter noticed his fellow-prisoner's awaking, he laid down his pen, and held out his hand.

"I was writing a few lines to the doctor," he said. "I daresay they will take a note for me. I have told him that we are prisoners, to account to my wife for our absence."

"Tell him--tell them," said Murray, flus.h.i.+ng a little, "to be of good cheer, for we are behaving like prisoners, and watching some means by which we may all escape from this wretched place."

"And if my letter goes to the rajah first, he may get it interpreted for him, and know what we intend to do." Murray made an impatient gesture.

"You are right," he said. "My brain is all confused. We cannot escape without those boys."

"I am as confused as you are," replied Mr Braine. "The rajah has had those two taken to hold as hostages. I am sorry to give you pain, but the truth must be told."

"But why--why?"

"Do you need to ask?"

"No," said Murray, despairingly. "I know well enough, and in my selfish love for her, I am ready to say she must be saved from such a fate."

"And my son condemned to death in company with your brother's child."

Murray sprang up, and began to pace the room, making the floor wave and the walls quiver with his impetuous tread.

"Tell me what to do," he said at last. "I feel helpless. I will follow your instructions, and look to you for what is right."

Mr Braine shook his head sorrowfully, finished his letter, and handed it to Murray to read.

"Yes," he said; "you cannot say more."

The letter was sealed, and the chief of their guards summoned.

"I want this letter taken to the doctor," said Mr Braine.

The man bowed, took the letter, and gave it to one of his men, who went off directly, while Mr Braine stood back against the wall of the room.

"I thought so," he said. "I am fallen from my high position now."

"What do you mean?" said Murray, eagerly.

"The messenger has gone toward the rajah's place, and not to the doctor's house."

Breakfast was brought in to them soon afterwards, but Murray turned from it in disgust.

"Eat, man," said Mr Braine, quietly. "It is a necessity. You may want all your wits and strength before long."

"I said I would look to you for advice," Murray exclaimed; and he sat down and ate mechanically, while Mr Braine went on talking.

"If those boys were here," he said; "matters have now arrived at such a pitch, that I should try and scheme in some way to procure a boat, get all on board, and make an attempt to start away in the darkness."

"Of course!" cried Murray. "They might not see us, but if they did, we are skilled in the use of our weapons, and I swear I could bring down every man at whom I shot."

"Yes," said Mr Braine, thoughtfully; "if driven, we should have to fight. I might win over three or four or half a dozen of the men to whom I have been friendly. I think I could. But no. The rajah has been too cunning for us. He sees that we are likely to try to escape, and he has us on the hip. Murray, I cannot go and leave my boy to the mercy of this demon. Mercy? He does not know the word. I should horrify you, if I told you of all I have been compelled to witness here."

Murray gazed at him with his brow puckered, and then he suddenly started.

"I was to go on another expedition to-day; and, good heavens! here comes the rajah's messenger to say that the elephants are ready. He shall kill me before I'll stir a step. Stop," he cried excitedly--"the elephants. I shall be able to take gun, rifle, and revolver. What if I make the men stop a mile or two away in the jungle path. Could you contrive to join me with the ladies after dark?"

"And if you could alone over-ride your guard, and I could contrive to join you with the ladies after dark, where should we go? My dear fellow, it is madness. Only out into the mountains to starve. We could not take the ladies, even if we could forsake the boys. Hus.h.!.+ here he is."

The Tumongong, who had been in close conference with the chief of the guard below in the garden, now ascended the steps, and saluted the two prisoners.

"I bring you a message," he said, gravely. "The rajah wishes him to wait for a few days before going upon his expedition, and he is to return to his own house. Tell him."