"He is the white officer's servant," the interpreter said.
"Well, he can go with his master, then."
The four troopers were led off in one direction, and Harry and the others in another. It was a hut roughly constructed of bamboos, thatched with broad leaves, while the entrance had no door. The interpreter did not carry arms; those of Harry and Abdool had been removed.
"Things have turned out badly, Abdool," Harry said.
"Very badly, sahib. I do not like the look of that rajah."
"Nor do I, Abdool. I am convinced that he means mischief, and we must get away as soon as we can.
"Have you got your knife with you? So have I. We must make a way out of the back of this hut."
A group of half a dozen Malays had taken their seats on the ground, at a distance of some fifteen yards from the entrance; but had posted no sentries. Behind it, as they were taken in, Harry noticed that there was a patch of grain, and beyond that rose the forest.
"These knives are no good against bamboo, sahib."
"No, I know that; but we might cut these rattans which bind them together. In the first place, dig down with your knife, and see if the bamboos are sound underneath. They may have rotted there.