The principal was an order that the orang should come ashore, the order being given by Dullah.
What was the orang?
He puzzled for a few moments, as the sampan pushed off. Orang-outang! Was this after all a trading visit, and they were going to bring some great monkey ashore.
Orang-outang—man of the woods, of course. Orang meant man or men, and the men were to land. There was danger then, and men were to land. That was enough, and now he would go and give warning; but he could not move without being heard, and he had to remain listening, as there was the faint beat of oars, and then, though he could hardly see them, two long row-boats of great size seemed to come up out of the darkness, and he felt more than saw that they were full of men.
What was the sentry about? There was one so near that he ought to have seen or heard their coming, and Gray listened eagerly for the report of his piece giving the alarm.
But no report came, for the sentry had not heard. He had not been krissed, but as far as giving alarm was concerned he might have been dead; for the sentry close at hand was Private Sim, and he was fast asleep.