WHAT FOLLOWED
Sree's daring act with the mines, and the coming of the sailors who
had burned the enemy's fleet of warboats, combined to completely
dishearten the rebels, who fled, to a man; and the next day the people
were poling back their houseboats to their old places about the banks
of the river, trade was going on, and scores of the King's servants
and retainers came flocking in, many of whom had no doubt taken part
in the attack upon the palace, but the majority had fled through fear.
The wounded were for the most part helped and fetched away, saving the
bad cases, which were attended by Dr. Cameron and the surgeon from the
ship; and excepting that strong guards were stationed at the levelled
gates and the broken wall there was no sign of the effects of the
siege twenty-four hours after the enemy had taken flight.
The presence of the British war-ship in the river, with her guns and
the naval detachment, helped to awe the people; but with the flight of
the second king and his party the rebellion died, the hatred of the
English colony was forgotten, and Harry felt half angry, half amused,
to see the competition which ensued in the course of a few hours among
the work-people of the city, who nearly fought for the right to
rebuild the bungalows which had been destroyed.
To be brief, in a few days the King was more firmly seated upon the
throne than ever, for the inimical party had been swept away, and his
people vied among themselves to prove who were the most devoted
servants he possessed.
It was about three months later, and after the departure of the
man-of-war, that Harry and Phra were going round the English quarter,
where the rebuilding was well in progress, Mr. Kenyon's bungalow most
forward of all.
"They have worked, Phra," cried Harry triumphantly. "Why, in another
fortnight we shall be able to begin housekeeping again. Mike has
bought boat-loads of things ready to come in as soon as the place is
dry."
"Yes," said Phra; "they are getting on fast. These light bamboo-built
places are soon raised; but I don't see why you should be in such a
hurry. Aren't you comfortable up at the palace?"
"Comfortable?" cried Harry. "It would be a shame if we weren't. No one
could be nicer than the King."
"To his friends," said Phra gravely. "His enemies think differently."
"He has no enemies now," said Harry.
"No, not now, for the last of those who headed the rising have left
the country."
"All those who could," said Harry, with a meaning look.
"Don't talk about it," said Phra, with a spasm of pain in his face.
"We were talking about you coming back here to live. Aren't you afraid
of another volcanic eruption?"
"N--no," said Harry. "We should be more on our guard if one were
threatening."
"There will not be another for many years," said Phra gravely. "My
father has shown the people what he can do when roused, and he means
to be more severe with any who stir up the people against what he does
and his favouring of the English. I am sure we shall all be safe for
many years to come. Don't hurry to get away from the palace; father
wants you to stay--so do I."
"Yes, that's very nice, but it isn't home, Phra, old chap, and we
English people like to be independent and have our own nests. But I
was thinking that if there was another rising in a few years, we
should be grown men and able to do better."
"You couldn't. Could they, Cameron?" said a voice behind them.
"You there, father?" cried Harry, flushing.
"Where should I be but in my own home, sir? The doctor and I have just
come for a look round. But the museum looks bad, boys."
"Yes, father. Phra and I were talking last night about having a turn
in the jungle with Sree to begin collecting."
"And also about a rebellion in the future, and fighting better when
you are men. The doctor and I hope and believe that if there is war
again it will be against a foreign enemy, and the people will be
joining their wise and progressive King in defending themselves. Eh,
Cameron?"
"We shall have no more risings," said the doctor decisively, "for the
people will never forget the way in which the last was put down. We
are like your father, Phra, stronger than ever now."
"Let's end here," said Mr. Kenyon. "One such incident as that trouble
at the palace is enough in any boy's life."
The two elders walked away to meet Mrs. Cameron, who had come down to
join her husband; and the boys stood looking at one another.
"No more fighting, Phra," said Harry; "but we've got the museum to
fill."
"Yes; when shall we begin?"
"At once," said Harry. "So let's go and find old Sree."
End of Project Gutenberg's Jungle and Stream, by George Manville Fenn