“Begin at once, sir?”
“At once,” said Captain Smithers. “I trust to your silence. No one but Mr Long knows of your mission.”
Gray saluted again and went off, while the two officers continued their walk towards Dullah’s hut.
The Malay came out as they approached, and with a deprecating gesture invited them to take a seat beneath his verandah and partake of fruit.
This, however, they declined to do, contenting themselves with returning his salute, and passing on.
There were two sampans moored close to Dullah’s hut, each holding four Malays, but the boats themselves were filled with produce piled high, and the owners were evidently waiting to have dealings with their superior, the man who had been appointed to supply the English garrison of the island and the ship.
There was nothing suspicious to be seen here, neither did anything attract their attention as they continued their walk right round the island, everything being as calm and still as the sleepy shore which lay baking beneath the ardent rays of the sun, while the various houses looked comparatively cool beneath the shade of the palms and durian trees, with here and there a great ragged-leaved banana showing a huge bunch of its strange fruit.
Tired and hot, they were glad to return to their quarters, where Sergeant Lund was writing out a report, and occasionally frowning at Private Sim, who was lying under a tree fast asleep.