Then once more they were afloat, and for the first time Ned recognised their guardians of the jungle prison from which they had been rescued by Hamet, these men going back in their own boat, now reverted to its proper crew.
So the two nagas floated gently down the stream in the afternoon, reaching the campong at last; but they went down so leisurely that it was dark when they reached the jetty, shouting and beating a gong to announce their return in triumph.
Everything seemed very quiet at the village, and Ned tried to pierce the darkness and make out the place where they had lain in hiding, and that where they had landed to try to rescue Murray.
“I say,” whispered Frank, rousing up from the despondent state in which he had sunk, “try and count the prahus.”
Ned turned and looked in the other direction, but it was too dark, and he said he could not see.
“I can’t either, but it seemed as if there were four.”
The men sprang ashore, and secured the two boats before bidding their prisoners come out, and as one by one these landed, Mr Braine overheard a little of their conversation.
“We are to be all taken straight up to the rajah’s,” he whispered. “Keep up your courage, and let’s hope yet. All may be well after all.”
“Very kind of you to say so, Mr Braine,” replied the doctor, “but—”
There was no time for further converse, the Malay head-man giving an order, and the whole party were marched off the jetty and up the broad path leading toward the rajah’s; the crews of the two boats following with regular military step, till they reached a narrower part, where the way led between two houses, when suddenly, as if they had risen out of the earth, a body of men blocked the road, and guard and prisoners were halted.