The Rajah of Dah Part 39

"Couldn't they! You don't know. They throw them splendidly. Why, I know fellows here who could hit you with a spear every time at thirty yards, and send the thing right through you."

"Ugh!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Ned, with a shudder. "Come along, and we'll get Hamet to give us some coffee."

"And bring us pipes. I say, let's try and smoke."

"Nonsense!"

"Well then, let's go down to the jetty. You can see the fireflies down by the river-side. They look wonderful on the other bank."

"Then let the monkeys and crocodiles look at them. I don't want to look at anything. I'm so tired."

"Then sit in a sampan, and I'll row you about among the crocs."

"I'm not going to sit in Sam's pan or anybody else's pan," cried Ned.

"I want to lie down and rest. That elephant has shaken me all to pieces, and I'm so sore; I'm just as if I had been caned all over."

"Perhaps you have," said Frank, laughingly. "Your uncle has been giving it to you. I say though, seriously, I'll ask the rajah to give you a set of native togs. You'd find them so cool and comfortable."

"And look just such a guy as you do."

"You want me to punch your head, Ned. Guy, indeed!"

"Do. Try."

"Not I. Ill-tempered beggar, that's what you are. I say, there are no guards watching us. Let's go and have a game somewhere."

"Yes, a game at coffee and cushions," said Ned. "Here we are.--I say, Hamet, can you give us some coffee, quick?"

The Malay was busy arranging the rifle and guns which had been used that day, and he nodded; but, instead of hurrying to prepare the meal, he laid his hand on Ned's arm.

"Something wrong?" he said. "Trouble?"

"Oh, I don't know," replied Ned, carelessly; "nothing much. Why do you ask?"

"Hamet think so," he said, his peculiar p.r.o.nunciation sounding strange.

"The master want to go away back down the river?"

"Eh? Yes, but we can't. They have taken the boat and the men."

"Yes; but Hamet knows where now. Always been try to find boat and men."

"But you couldn't find them. My uncle can't, and you don't know, do you, Frank?"

"No; they took them all right away somewhere. But never mind about them. You can have the rajah's boats when you like, and you don't want to go away."

"How do you know?" replied Ned, thoughtfully. "We might want to go perhaps all in a hurry, and it would be handy to know where our own boat and men are."

"Oh, bother! Don't be shabby, and talk about going. We've had no fun at all hardly yet. Where's that coffee?"

"But it would be handy to know where the boat is kept in case of there being trouble; and I know my uncle has been annoyed at its being so hidden away."

"Yes; the master angry," a.s.sented Hamet. "My boat--my men."

"And you know where it is?" said Frank.

"Yes; one of my men came and told me to-night. They all want to go back home, and they are kept at work."

"Yes!" exclaimed Ned, "we ought to know."

"Very well then," cried Frank, rather ill-humouredly; "he knows where the boat is, and when you've done collecting, and we've had no end more trips, you can get your things...o...b..ard again, and go."

"But we ought to know too," said Ned, "in case of there being trouble.

We might want to go in a hurry."

"Yes; that's right," grumbled Frank. "Well, you are shabby. I haven't had a companion for years now; and as soon as I've got one, you want to take him away."

"But you used to do without one before I came."

"Yes; but then I hadn't had one. I say, never mind about all that.

Settle down here till we all go. Perhaps we shall some day."

"Hamet show the young master where the boat is?"

"Yes," said Ned eagerly; and he forgot his weariness in the desire to know that which had been concealed from him.

"Why, I thought you were too tired to stir," cried Frank.

"I wanted you to go down to the river to a boat, and you were gruff and wouldn't come."

"Hamet did not say down by the river."

"Where do you suppose it is, then?" cried Frank, laughing; "up in a tree?"

"Yes; down the river. Hamet knows."

"Let's go and see where it is, Frank," said Ned eagerly.

"What for? I'm too tired now."

"Suppose you and your father wanted to go too."

"We should have a naga and plenty of the rajah's men."

"No, you would not. He would not let you go."

"No more he would," said Frank, thoughtfully. "All right then, if you really mean to go, I'll come. I can guess where it is, though, and it will not be a very nice walk."

"Not far. Soon go," said Hamet. "Then the master know if he want boat."