“That’s right,” said Captain Horton; “but for goodness’ sake, man, wash your hands well before you come to dinner.”
“All right,” said the doctor; and that evening, after dinner, he took the Malay boy into his confidence.
“Look here,” he said, “I want to shoot an Argus pheasant. There must be some about here.”
“Argus pheasant?” said the Malay boy, staring, and then shaking his head.
“Yes, I heard one last night.”
Still the boy shook his head. He had never heard of such a bird.
“Oh, yes, you know what I mean,” said the doctor; “they keep in the shelter of the jungle, and are very rarely shot; but I must have one.”
The boy shook his head.
“Don’t I tell you I heard one last night, after we had camped down? It calls out Coo-ai.”
“No, no! no, no!” cried the boy; “Coo-ow, Coo-ow.”