"Come and see. If it's safe enough for me to be out here, it's safe enough for you."
Mike evidently considered this reply unanswerable, for he came out slowly and cautiously, the two men seated on the hamper-like basket evidently enjoying the man's timidity. They glanced at Harry inquiringly, and he gave them a quick nod of assent, with the result that as Mike was passing them, with divers suspicious glances at their seat, they made a sudden spring together, as if the occupant of the bamboo covering had suddenly and by a tremendous effort raised the lid. There was a loud creaking, and with a rush Mike was back through the door, which he banged to.
The old hunter, who had seated himself to prepare a fresh piece of betel-nut for chewing, laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks, while his two bearers drew their feet up and squatted now upon the basket lid, chuckling with delight, and looking to Harry as if expecting a fresh hint for startling Mike.
Harry went to the door and pushed at it, finding it give a little, but only to be pressed to directly, as if by Mike's shoulder.
"Here, it's all right; open the door," cried Harry. "He didn't get out."
The door was opened cautiously, and Mike's head slowly appeared, to look from one to the other and encounter faces that were serious now almost to solemnity.
"I thought he'd got out, sir," said Mike.
"Oh no, he's safe enough; look how they've fastened the lid down with bamboo skewers."
"Yes, sir, but some o' them things is so awful strong. What is it—tiger?"
"Oh no, it's not a tiger, Mike. A tiger would scratch and kick a basket like that to pieces in no time."