The Rajah of Dah Part 41

This too in Malay, and the man addressed smiled now, but he would not answer, and Frank gave it up.

"I don't think they've killed him, or they wouldn't look so civil.

Perhaps they've only shut him up like us. Well, I'm glad we went to see where the boat was."

"Oh, I say, don't reproach me!" cried Ned. "I did all for the best.

Then we've been sleeping here all night. I never knew."

"Not you. They gave us some stuff, I know."

"But my uncle! He'll think I'm lost, or gone into the river, or something. What will he say?"

"Oh, bother your uncle!" cried Frank, petulantly. "I'm thinking about my poor old dad."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

A FRIENDLY HAND.

The two boys stood staring thoughtfully at each other that bright, sunny morning, for some minutes before Ned spoke again.

"They will not kill us, will they?" he said.

"Kill us? No. I should just like to catch them at it. The brutes! To take away my kris too. There's going to be a row about this as soon as my father knows."

"Then you think it's all a mistake?"

"Of course it is. I shouldn't have wondered if they'd shut you up like this, but you see they've shut up me."

"Well, you're of no more consequence than I am," said Ned, laughing in spite of his trouble and a throbbing head.

"No more consequence than you? Why, I've done as much as I liked about here for ever so long, and the people have treated me just as if I were the rajah's son. It's all your fault."

"I suppose so," said Ned, dismally.

"But if they think they're going to do just as they like, they're mistaken. Here!" he cried in Malay, "water."

There was a bit of a bustle out on the veranda, and two men came in with bra.s.s basins and cotton cloths, which they held while, without hesitation, Frank began to bathe his face.

It was a good example, and Ned followed suit, the cool, fresh water feeling delightful to his heated brow.

"Done?" said Frank, as he wiped his hands.

"Yes."

"Take away, and bring breakfast," cried Frank, haughtily, to the men, who bowed and went off with the water and towels.

"I'll let them see whether they're going to treat me like a prisoner,"

cried Frank.

"I wish I could be as b.u.mptious as you are with them," said Ned, with a faint smile.

"You don't try."

"I'm so anxious."

"Oh, it's of no use to be anxious," said Frank, gazing out of the door, and then through the window with its bamboo lattice-work.

"Which house are we in?"

"I don't know. I was trying to make out, but you can only see trees. I do believe they've taken us up the river somewhere. I don't know, though. These houses are all alike. It isn't the Tumongong's, nor the Muntrie's, nor the Maharajah Lela's. Yes, I believe they've taken us up the river. The old chap has houses in all sorts of places out in the jungle, where he likes to go and hide himself sometimes, but I don't see any fun in his hiding us."

"Then they brought us up here. But how?"

"In a naga, of course."

"But in our sleep, or while we were insensible?"

"Insensible, if you like to call it so. They must have given us some stuff. They've all kinds of dodges of that sort, bless 'em! You should hear Doctor Barnes talk about the poisons they use."

"I should like to--now," said Ned, drily.

"And so you shall--before long. I'll soon get you out of this. Yes,"

he continued, "this is one of the old boy's places. See how fine the mats are, and how the walls are covered. But never mind now, my head's better, and here's our breakfast."

For the two men entered as the boys came back into the main room opening on to the veranda from an inspection of two side-places beautifully hung and covered with mats. Then a third man entered, and as Frank nonchalantly seated himself on the matting floor, Ned followed his example, and an excellent breakfast was placed before them.

"Not bad for being prisoners," said Frank, as he ate away; while, after the first few mouthfuls, Ned's appet.i.te increased, and he began to enjoy the meal.

"That's right. Ruminate away, old chap. There's nothing to pay. It's the rajah's orders, sure enough, or we shouldn't be fed like this. He isn't going to kill us."

"Think not?"

"Sure of it, unless he's going to fatten us up, and then try whether we're good to eat."

"I wish I had such good spirits as you have."

"Oh, I'm getting better now. Here you, send in the head-man," cried Frank to one of their attendants.

The man bowed respectfully, and withdrew to the veranda, where they heard him speak, and directly after one of the party, evidently a man of some consequence from his silken sarong, came in.

"I want my kris," said Frank.

The man smiled, and shook his head.

"You give it me directly. It was the rajah's present."

"You will run amok," said the man.