No more was heard of the tiger, but the boys laughed and talked about it together, for they could not help enjoying the ill-luck which had attended those who went in its chase.
"I know how it is," said Harry, with mock seriousness; "the tiger heard who was coming to shoot him, and he went, off to wait until Prince Phra had grown up old enough to go tiger-hunting in proper style."
"Yes, that's it," said Phra drily. "But you may as well say how you know. The tiger came and told you, I suppose."
"Oh, never mind that," said Harry. "I wish you wouldn't talk about it.
I say, when's that chest coming from London?"
"Don't know; some day," said Phra.
It was pretty well on to half a year from the time of the order being given to the day when the big chest was delivered at the palace, being brought up by one of the royal barges, with its many rowers in scarlet jackets, from the vessel lying at the mouth of the river, right up to the stone landing-place in front of the palace, from which it was borne, attached to a couple of great bamboos, by a dozen men, preceded and followed by guards bearing spears.
"Such a jolly fuss," said Harry, frowning. "Why, you and I could have each taken hold of an end and carried it up to our house and opened it there."
"Well, no," said Phra; "you see, it is my father's, and he is King, and it is only proper for the box to be brought up like this."
"Is it?" said Harry contemptuously. "All right, only I thought the box was for us."
"So it is," said Phra; "but father has not given it to us yet."