"Nonsense!" said Archie impatiently.

"Nonsense? Why, they often upset a boat when they are hungry, and lay hold of a nice, juicy native, to take him down and stuff him in some hole in the bank to get tender for the next feed."

"Oh, they would never attack a boat when men are splashing about with poles."

"Well, you don't catch me taking ladies out on a dark night, unless it's in a big dragon-boat with plenty of men on board; and then I should like to have a gun."

"They are horrible beasts," said Archie, "and I wonder that the Malay fellows don't try to exterminate them."

"Ah! Go in pluckily and make a decent use of those crooked krises of theirs. There would be some sense in having them poisoned then."

"Old Morley says he has never seen a kris-wound turn bad, and he has doctored scores. Says it's all fudge about their being poisoned."

"Well, he ought to know," said the Captain; "but there's no go in these Malay fellows. I don't believe they would stir even if they saw one of their women s.n.a.t.c.hed off the bank where she had gone to fetch water."

The officer had been giving his opinions in a low, subdued voice, and Archie Maine was about to break out in defence of the people amongst whom they were stationed; but he closed his half-parted lips, for the silence within the mess-room was broken by the voice of the Resident, who suddenly broke out with:

"To go on with what I was saying at dinner--"

"Eh?" said the Major drowsily; and the two young men in the veranda turned slightly, to see, by the light of a faintly burning lamp, the old officer alter his position and re-spread a large bandana silk handkerchief over his head as if to screen it from the night air. "What were you saying at dinner?"

"About its seeming such an anomalous position."

"What's an anomalous position?" said the Major more drowsily.

"Why, for me to be supposed to be here, for diplomatic reasons, to advise Rajah Suleiman as to his governing his people, and to have you and your strong detachment stationed at the campong."

"Anomalous!" said the Major, with a chuckle. "I call it wise. See what emphasis a body of fighting-men can give to your advice."

"Oh, but that's dealing with the natives by force."

"Very good force too, old fellow; for I don't believe that thick-lipped, sensual--looking fellow would take much notice of what you say if we weren't here."

"Yes; but I want to deal with them by moral suasion."

"Rifles are much better. There's no occasion to use them; it's their being at hand if they are wanted that will do the trick."

"I don't think it's necessary," said Sir Charles firmly. "I am getting on very well with the Rajah, and he listens to everything I advise with the greatest attention."

"Glad to hear it," said the Major, with a grunt; "but it seems to me that he pays a deal more attention to that French chap than he does to you."

"Think so?" said Sir Charles sharply.

There was silence for a few minutes.

"Let's get up and stroll round the lines," whispered Archie.

"Sha'n't. 'Tisn't time for visiting posts."

"But they'll wake to the fact that we are listeners."

"Let 'em. They ought to know we are here."

"But they are talking business," whispered Archie.

"Well, it's our business as much as theirs. Are you afraid that listeners will hear no good of themselves, and the Major will bring in something about your last prank?"

"No;" and the lad twitched himself a little round in his cane chair, which uttered a loud squeak; and the Resident went on:

"Yes, that fellow is rather a nuisance. His bright, chatty way and deference please the Rajah; and I suppose you are right, for he's always proposing something that amuses the stolid Malay, while my prosing about business matters must bore him."

"I believe he's an adventurer," said the Major. "Don't like him."

"Well, he doesn't like you, Major; so that balances the account."

"I don't know. What's he here for?"

"Oh, he's a bit of a naturalist and a bit of a sportsman. Glad of a ride through the jungle on an elephant. Glad of his board and lodging.

Bit of a student he thinks himself in his dilettante, Parisian way. Oh, there's no harm in him."

"So much the better," said the Major. "But what about that other fellow--what's his name?--Hamet?"

"Ah-h!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the Resident, expiring his breath rather sharply, almost in a hiss. "I am rather doubtful about that fellow. I'm afraid he's an intriguer."

"Why, there's nothing to intrigue about in this jungle."

"Don't you make any mistake, Major. There's as much intriguing going on in this half-savage country as there is in Europe. That fellow Hamet, on the strength of his European education, is very anxious to be friends with me, and his civility covers a good deal."

"Good deal of what?" said the Major.

"Politics."

"Politics! Rubbish!"

"Oh no, my dear sir; not rubbish. This long, narrow Malay Peninsula is cut up into countries each ruled over by a petty Rajah, and these half-savage potentates are all as jealous of one another as can be.

Each Rajah is spoiling for a fight so as to get possession of his neighbour's territory, and if we were not here one or the other of them would swallow up Suleiman's patch, and he, knowing this, submits as pleasantly as he can to the rule and protection of England, which keeps them safe."

"Do you think, then, that this young fellow Hamet has any of these grasping ideas?"

"Think? I am sure of it. He wants to be very friendly with me; and what for?"

"Well, I suppose," said the Major, "he thinks you would be a very good friend, and lend him a company or two of men to help him against one of his grasping neighbours. What do you say?"

"Between ourselves," said Sir Charles, lowering his voice, "I think he goes further than that. He has his eye on Suleiman's rich territory, and would like me to help him to sit in Master Suleiman's place."

"Ho, ho!" said the Major. "And what do you say to that?"

"Nothing," said the Resident shortly.