Murray had been standing listening impatiently to this conversation, a portion of which was translated to him, but he had now suddenly grasped his companion’s arm, and drawn his attention to the open place or veranda at the top of the steps, and upon Mr Braine looking up, he dimly saw that there was a figure standing there with a group of others behind, and in spite of the gloom he had no difficulty in seeing who the foremost figure was, and comprehending why the Tumongong had been so guarded in his replies to them.
Mr Braine addressed himself to the dimly-seen figure at once, speaking now in the Malay tongue.
“Your highness has heard all I have said,” he cried. “Tell me, has some accident befallen those two boys, or have they been taken away by your orders?”
It seemed to be a different man entirely who was now speaking, and though Murray could not comprehend a word, he grasped the rajah’s meaning plainly enough, as he uttered what was evidently a command, to which Mr Braine spoke again sharply now.
The rajah uttered a low guttural word, and Murray now cried: “What does he say?”
“Go!”
“But I insist,” cried Murray.
The rajah spoke again, and a dozen armed men ran from behind and leaped actively to the ground.
Murray’s hand darted to his breast, but Mr Braine caught his wrist.
“Madness!” he said. “Wait.”