It was a dreary tramp down to the naga lying close beside their own,
fastened to a tree on the river-bank; but though the two wounded men
scowled at them, and even at the doctor who had offered to, and did
dress their wounds, the rest of the Malays were respectful and friendly
enough, for the Resident and doctor were favourites with them, and they
could all recollect acts of kindness. The ladies were helped over
difficult parts, and refreshments and water were freely offered to those
who had, as the Malays thought, naturally enough tried to escape, while
they on their part had received orders to recapture them, and been
successful.
Then once more they were afloat, and for the first time Ned recognised
their guardians of the jungle prison from which they had been rescued by
Hamet, these men going back in their own boat, now reverted to its
proper crew.
So the two nagas floated gently down the stream in the afternoon,
reaching the campong at last; but they went down so leisurely that it
was dark when they reached the jetty, shouting and beating a gong to
announce their return in triumph.
Everything seemed very quiet at the village, and Ned tried to pierce the
darkness and make out the place where they had lain in hiding, and that
where they had landed to try to rescue Murray.
"I say," whispered Frank, rousing up from the despondent state in which
he had sunk, "try and count the prahus."
Ned turned and looked in the other direction, but it was too dark, and
he said he could not see.
"I can't either, but it seemed as if there were four."
The men sprang ashore, and secured the two boats before bidding their
prisoners come out, and as one by one these landed, Mr Braine overheard
a little of their conversation.
"We are to be all taken straight up to the rajah's," he whispered.
"Keep up your courage, and let's hope yet. All may be well after all."
"Very kind of you to say so, Mr Braine," replied the doctor, "but--"
There was no time for further converse, the Malay head-man giving an
order, and the whole party were marched off the jetty and up the broad
path leading toward the rajah's; the crews of the two boats following
with regular military step, till they reached a narrower part, where the
way led between two houses, when suddenly, as if they had risen out of
the earth, a body of men blocked the road, and guard and prisoners were
halted.
Then there were cries of excitement, and orders given to retreat, but
another body of enemies blocked the road in their rear.
For a few moments it seemed as if the prisoners were to be in the centre
of a desperate encounter, but a few sharp commands sufficed to make the
Malay guard sullenly give up their arms to a force ten times their
number, and then the march toward the rajah's house was continued, but
under a fresh guard now.
"What is the matter?" whispered Ned. "Is the rajah angry with them for
taking us?"
"I don't quite know," said Frank. "It seems to me that--Wait a minute
or two, it's so dark, and I can't make these men out."
They were marched directly after into the enclosure, now a blaze of
light from the number of lanterns and dammar torches stuck about. The
place, too, was filled with armed men, and as they were halted just at
the foot of the steps, a Malay officer in scarlet and yellow came down,
looked eagerly at the English party, and then signed to them to follow.
Frank tried to get to his father, but he was not allowed to advance till
the ladies had all ascended to the broad veranda; then both lads were
ordered to go up, and they followed their seniors into the rajah's chief
room, now brilliantly lit, and dotted with his chief men, while he sat
on a bamboo stool at the far end in his gorgeous uniform as upon their
first meeting, the Tumongong sitting upon a second stool upon his right.
"Ugh! the old guy!" whispered Frank. "I wish--I say, look--it isn't
him. Why, Ned, what's happened?"
The reason for this exclamation was the rising of the Tumongong, to
tower above the double rank of sword and regalia bearers on either side.
And to the astonishment of all present, he stretched out his hands,
and, in very fair English, as he took Amy's and kissed them, said:
"My dear child, Allah be praised that you and yours are safe! Mrs
Braine, Mrs Barnes, welcome home."
He kissed their hands in turn, and then greeted the gentlemen warmly
before turning to the boys. "Frank--Edward Murray," he said, "safe; no
one hurt? I am very, very glad."
"But," cried Mr Braine, eagerly, "the rajah?"
"I am the Rajah of Dah now," said the Malay chief with a touch of
hauteur in his tones. "Are you surprised?"
"No," said Mr Braine, warmly. "Thank God! I knew that some day it
must come."
"When the fruit was dead ripe, it would fall," said the new rajah,
solemnly.
"And Sadi?"
"The tyrant, the robber and oppressor of all who ascended and descended
this river, is dead, sir, and with your help, I hope that a new period
of peace will open on the land. The time was ripe at last, and I sent
to my ally here, Rajah Alleen."
This chief rose and was presented to all in turn, bowing with Eastern
dignity, and the scene would have been impressive but for the Malay's
vanity. The gorgeous military uniform of his enemy had excited his
cupidity ever since reports had reached him of its splendour, and the
minute he had made an almost bloodless seizure of the campong, he had
claimed it as his spoil, received it readily from his friend the
ex-Tumongong, and arrayed himself in it ready for the return of the
English people, whom he wished to impress.
He succeeded far above his expectations, for that night, when back at
his old home, Frank said merrily:
"Why, it don't fit him half so well as it did poor old Sadi."
"No," assented Ned. "But--dead! how horrible!"
"Yes; one of his own men killed him, they say, for every one hated him
except me."
"And you liked him?"
"No, I don't think I liked him," said Frank, taking up the kris Hamet
had replaced in his hands; and then, with a shudder, hanging it upon the
wall; "but he was always very kind to me."