“Didn’t the masther say I was to. But nobody would dare to touch a thing here. Here he is.”
Ned turned sharply, and saw a little party approaching, consisting of Mr Braine, the doctor, and Murray, with the Tumongong at their side.
“Tim,” said the doctor, “you can superintend here. The men are to carry everything in the boat up to the house next but one to ours.”
“The one close to the trees, sor?”
“Yes. You will not want any other help. But mind that the boat is properly made fast.”
“Shall I stay too, uncle?” asked Ned.
“No; come with me, and let’s see our new quarters.”
They were in the act of starting when the Malay chief by their side held up his hand to arrest them, looking along the river with eager eyes, where a boat, similar to the one which had first come alongside their own, could be seen approaching fast, half filled with men, eight of whom were working vigorously at the oars, while half a dozen more sat beneath the awning, with the blades of their spears thrust out at the sides, and glittering in the sun.
“Have they got him, I wonder?” said the doctor half aloud.
“Got whom?” asked Murray.