Part 28 (2/2)
”We want no English on our coast,” the chief said. ”There are the Dutch, at Malacca--some day we will turn them out.
”So he was bringing presents to Joh.o.r.e, was he?”
”Yes, my lord; these are the parcels,” and he beckoned up the men who carried them.
These approached, and humbly laid them at the rajah's feet.
”I have to report, my lord, that there were twenty of Joh.o.r.e's men with him. These we killed.”
”Did the white man and his soldiers aid them?”
”No, my lord. They stood quiet, and offered no resistance, therefore I brought them to you.”
”You did well. You are sure that none of the Joh.o.r.e men escaped, to carry off the news that we were here?”
”Quite certain. We have the heads of twenty men, and their officer.”
”Good! I will examine these things. Put the white man and this Malay into a hut, and the four soldiers into another.
”Who is this other man, who is dressed differently?”
”He is the white officer's servant,” the interpreter said.
”Well, he can go with his master, then.”
The four troopers were led off in one direction, and Harry and the others in another. It was a hut roughly constructed of bamboos, thatched with broad leaves, while the entrance had no door. The interpreter did not carry arms; those of Harry and Abdool had been removed.
”Things have turned out badly, Abdool,” Harry said.
”Very badly, sahib. I do not like the look of that rajah.”
”Nor do I, Abdool. I am convinced that he means mischief, and we must get away as soon as we can.
”Have you got your knife with you? So have I. We must make a way out of the back of this hut.”
A group of half a dozen Malays had taken their seats on the ground, at a distance of some fifteen yards from the entrance; but had posted no sentries. Behind it, as they were taken in, Harry noticed that there was a patch of grain, and beyond that rose the forest.
”These knives are no good against bamboo, sahib.”
”No, I know that; but we might cut these rattans which bind them together. In the first place, dig down with your knife, and see if the bamboos are sound underneath. They may have rotted there.
”You and I will stand at the entrance,” he went on to the interpreter, ”then they cannot see in.”
”Bamboos are quite sound, sahib.”
”Then we must try another way. First cut the rattans--but not in a line with the entrance, a few feet on one side.”
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