The Rajah of Dah Part 46

"The rajah sends word that we are to be separated, Murray," said Mr Braine. "You are to go."

"And if I refuse?"

"There is no appeal, man; force would be used. Go patiently, and console yourself with the thought that I am working and planning for you. You must go."

Murray rose and held out his hand.

"Look here," he said; "if they have not taken them, I have plenty of arms and ammunition there, and I am ready to stand by you to the death.--Hah!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed angrily, as he turned fiercely on the Tumongong, "you know what I said?"

The Malay looked at him fixedly, but said nothing, and Murray shook hands with Mr Braine.

"Is this a ruse!" he said, bitterly. "Is it good-bye for ever? Are they going to make an end of me?"

The Tumongong looked admiringly at the firm manly fellow about to be led off, for aught he knew, to execution, and he spoke quickly to Mr Braine.

"The Tumongong bids me tell you that your life is quite safe."

"Hah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Murray; and he gave the Malay a grateful look, and went down to where his escort was waiting, the chief and half the guard marching him off back to his house, where at the first glance he saw that his weapons were still in their places; and here he threw himself down, to try to hit out some plan, while the Malays stationed themselves about the place, and he saw that he was to be strictly watched.

Meanwhile the Tumongong and Mr Braine stood gazing hard into each other's faces.

"Well, what next?" said Mr Braine at last, gazing searchingly into the Malay's eyes.

"You are to join the doctor and his family, and if you value your life, help his highness by reasoning with them, so that his wishes may be obeyed at once."

"He is still set upon this atrocity?"

"Yes; he is determined that the poor lady shall be his wife."

"And if we all refuse and set him at defiance?"

"What good?" said the Tumongong, bitterly.

"I cannot do it, man," cried Mr Braine. "Tell me where are those boys?"

"I cannot--I do not know."

"But--you have always been my friend--is there no way out of this difficulty?"

The Tumongong was silent.

"Yes," continued Mr Braine; "there is that way. His death or imprisonment. Is not the time ripe?"

The Malay made no answer.

"Murray is a strong man, brave as a lion; the doctor, Greig, and I are good shots. We will fight for you to the death."

"It is time to go," said the Tumongong, coldly; and he walked out into the veranda, and gave the guard below an order to be in readiness.

"It would be to the death," he said, quietly, as he returned. "No; we are not strong enough. It is not for want of courage. I could kris him, but it would be too cowardly. If we fought, it would mean death to your friends and the boys--the ladies left alone to his mercy. There: I am your friend. I have trusted you: my life is in your hands."

"It has been for months," said Mr Braine, quietly; "I have known your secret for long."

"Are you ready?" said the Tumongong, loudly. Then in a low tone--"Bring your weapons."

Five minutes after, the Resident was being marched to the doctor's, where his coming was eagerly greeted; and the guard there being strengthened by the newcomers, the Tumongong looking grave, and then going slowly off, followed by his attendants.

"Frank? Tell me about Frank," cried Mrs Braine, clinging to her husband's hand.

"Mr Murray--Ned?" cried Amy, seizing the other.

"All well as yet," said the Resident, sadly.

"This is true?" whispered Mrs Braine. "You are not deceiving me?"

"You know," he replied, gravely; and the ladies shrank away to weep together, while the doctor offered his old friend his hand.

"Bad news?" whispered the doctor.

"The worst. He insists, and it is to be at once."

"I would sooner kill her," said the doctor, pa.s.sionately.

"And I would sooner see her dead."

They stood thoughtful and silent for a few minutes before the doctor spoke again.

"I never felt our helplessness so much before. Where is Murray?"

Mr Braine told him.

"A good man the less, but we might perhaps get a message to him to make a dash for us here. Braine, will you fight?"

"To the death."

"We shall be four, with the women to load for us as we fire."

"I am ready, man," said Mr Braine, sadly; "and we shall have the satisfaction of acting as Englishmen in a time of peril, but we can do no more than keep them at bay for a time. Even if we did that, they could starve us out."

The doctor let his hands drop helplessly to his side.

"Yes; that's it," he said. "It is madness. It would only mean so much bloodshed and nothing done."

"He would send every man he had to his death to gain his ends."

"If I had only known--if I had only known!" groaned the doctor; "he would never have recovered from that last illness, I swear."

"Then you swear falsely," said Mr Braine, holding out his hand. "My old friend, John Barnes, never did a treacherous act, and never could."